'Angels' lifts spirits at HBO

By David Bauder, Associated Press, 12/10/2003

NEW YORK -- The first installment of HBO's much-praised miniseries "Angels in America" was seen by 4.2 million viewers on Sunday, Nielsen Media Research said. That made the first half of the six-hour drama, an AIDS-themed epic adapted from the stage by Tony Kushner, the most-watched made-for-cable movie of the year, HBO said.

The viewership was roughly a third of what the last original episode of "The Sopranos" drew on a Sunday night a year ago, and it paled in comparison to the 17.3 million people who saw CBS's "Undercover Christmas" on the same night. Nonetheless, HBO pronounced itself pleased.

HBO is airing the series in one-hour chunks before the second half is shown next Sunday, and it will also offer the miniseries in one six-hour sitting.

Meanwhile, CBS's indefatigable "Survivor" was the week's most popular program, drawing 22.2 million viewers Thursday.

CBS, the dominant network so far this season, averaged 13 million viewers last week (an 8.5 rating and 14 share). NBC had 10.6 million viewers on average (7.0, 11); ABC 9.8 million (6.4, 10); Fox 7.6 million (4.9, 8); the WB 3.7 million (2.4, 4); UPN 3.1 million (2.1, 3); and Pax TV 1.1 million (0.7, 1).A ratings point represents 1,084,000 households, or 1 percent of the nation's estimated 108.4 million TV homes. The share is the percentage of the in-use televisions tuned to a given show.

`Frontline' stands front and center

WGBH-TV's documentary series "Frontline" was the big winner when Columbia University recently announced the winners of the prestigious duPont-Columbia University awards for broadcast journalism.

"Frontline," which is distributed by PBS, won for an investigation of safety and environmental problems at foundries owned by McWane Inc., a series examining problems in the nation's child welfare system, and a documentary looking at how the events of Sept. 11, 2001, affected spirituality.

Other notable winners of the silver baton included ABC's "Nightline," for a series of reports featuring Ted Koppel as an embedded reporter in Iraq, and CBS correspondent David Martin's coverage of national security issues. National Public Radio also took home an award for its reporting on the war in Iraq.

As an example of the impact of investigative journalism in a local community, Boise, Idaho, television station KBCI-TV was honored for its probe into municipal corruption, which led to the resignation and indictment of the mayor and his chief of staff.

The awards ceremony will be held at Columbia University on Jan. 21 and hosted by Koppel.

MARK JURKOWITZ

ABC extends Kimmel's show

ABC has picked up its late-night show "Jimmy Kimmel Live" through the 2004-05 season.

"This is great news, as I am saving up to buy a new truck," comedian Jimmy Kimmel deadpanned about the third-season pickup of his show.

The live talk show had respectable numbers during its first November sweeps period, posting ratings growth over the May sweeps in several key categories, including total viewers (4 percent), adults age 18-49 (14 percent), and men age 18-34 and 18-49 (14 percent).

HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

Globe on NECN

Here's what's happening on "Around the Globe" today on NECN:

12:30 p.m.: "Globe at Home" -- Maine photographer Murad Sayen on his photograph collection "Maine: The Home Place."

4 p.m.: "Around the Globe"

6:30 p.m.: "New England Business Day"

8 p.m.: "NewsNight" Schedule is subject to change.

On Boston.com

Noon: Globe columnist Barbara Meltz answers questions about parenting.

Talk of the dial

7 a.m. WBIX-AM (1060) -- "Early Exchange." Guests: Don Roose, founder, US Commodities Inc., discusses why commodity prices are up; Ernie Boch Jr., president, Boch Automotive Enterprises.5 p.m. WBNW-AM (1120) -- "PM Magazine." Guests: Gloria Larson, attorney, Foley Hoag LLP, named Boston Magazine's Most Powerful & Influential Woman in Boston; Joseph Sinclair, author, "eBay the Smart Way"; Tom Parsons, founder/CEO, BestFares.com.

Other radio highlights

Noon WGBH-FM (89.7) -- "Classical Performances." Salieri Piano Concerto in C; Dvorak Piano Trio in E minor, "Dumky"; Gould Diversions for Saxophone and Orchestra; Schnittke "Suite in the Old Style."

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