NEW YORK -- Bill Cosby once again led the pack and led NBC to first place in the prime time ratings race last week, with comedy playing a major role in the standings.
Prime time ratings for the week ending Aug. 4, according to the A.C. Nielsen Co., saw NBC win with a 12.0 rating and a 23 share.
CBS came in second with an 11.0 rating and 20 share. In third was ABC with a 10.7 rating and 20 share.
Of the top 11 shows (there was a tie for 10th place), six were comedies, two were crime-related dramas, one was a heartwarmer and two were news magazines.
The top rated movie for the week, ABC's Sunday night 'The Blues Brothers' which ranked 15th, also was a comedy. The second top-rated movie, 'Tarzan, The Ape Man' on CBS, tied for 26th place with NBC's 'Sessions.'
'Rock 'n' Roll Summer Action' on ABC, one of the few original, non-rerun shows, came in 46th on a list of 65, and NBC's 'Our Time' came in a dismal 63rd.
'CBS Evening News with Dan Rather' again was the No. 1 news show for the week, with a 10.9 rating and a 24 share. ABC's 'World News Tonight' was second with a 9.3 rating and 21 share. 'NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw' was third with an 8.5 rating and a 19 share.
The top prime time shows for the week ending Aug. 4, according to the A.C. Nielsen Co., were:
1. The Cosby Show (NBC)
2. Family Ties (NBC)
3. Newhart (CBS)
4. Cagney & Lacey (CBS)
5. Kate & Allie (CBS)
6. 60 Minutes (CBS)
7. (tie) Highway to Heaven (NBC)
Riptide (NBC)
9. 20-20 (ABC)
10.
