NEW YORK -- Bill Cosby regained his position at the top of the Nielsen ratings after being bumped from television's top 10 last week for only the third time in the three years 'The Cosby Show' has been on the air.
Cosby had to share the honors with one of his former 'kids,' Lisa Bonet. Her 'A Different World' tied 'The Cosby Show' for number one with a 24.9 rating and a 38 share.
The two shows' dominance over the Thursday night lineup, which also includes NBC's top 10 rated 'Cheers' and 'Night Court,' helped NBC remain in first place.
Cosby's return to the top was predicted by Gerald Jaffe, vice president, NBC Research, who said after last week's show dropped out of the top 10 'This coming Thursday opposite regular competition 'The Cosby Show' will again be No. 1.'
NBC kept its clear lead in the network race. For the week ending Dec. 6 -- the 11th week of the new season -- NBC won with a 15.3 rating and 25 share. CBS was second with a 13 rating and 21 share and ABC was third with a 12.8 rating and 21 share.
For the season to date, NBC is in first with a 16.4 rating and 27 share. CBS and ABC are tied for second with a 13.7 rating and 23 share.
CBS had the three lowest rated programs. The bottom of the barrel was Saturday's night's 'Twighlight Zone Special,' which was whipped by the week's third-most-popular show, 'Golden Girls.'
In news, 'CBS Evening News' with Dan Rather was first for the 11th straight week with a 12 rating and 21 share. ABC's 'World News Tonight' with Peter Jennings and 'NBC Nightly News' with Tom Brokaw finished in a tie with an 11 rating and 19 share.
Each ratings point represents about 887,000 households and a share is the percentage of operating sets tuned to a particular show.
Winner of the week: NBC.
Loser of the week: Twilight Zone Special.
The top prime time shows for the week ending Dec. 6, according to the A.C. Nielsen Co., were:
1. Bill Cosby Show (NBC)
(tie) A Different World (NBC)
3. Golden Girls (NBC)
4. Cheers (NBC)
5. Growing Pains (ABC)
6. Night Court (NBC)
7. 60 Minutes (CBS)
8. Whos' the Boss? (ABC)
9. Moonlighting (ABC)
10. Football- NFL Monday Night LA Raiders vs.
