NEW YORK -- It was a bad week for fake dinosaurs but a great one for liposuction on ABC.
The network's Thursday night series "Dinotopia" is now extinct after four weeks. In its final showing last week, the elaborate fantasy show with recreations of dinosaurs attracted only 4.1 million viewers.
Yet ABC may have found a winner in "Extreme Makeovers," a show that took three people and drastically changed their appearances with plastic surgery, dental work, tummy tucks and stylist makeovers.
Placed in the same Wednesday time slot previously occupied by "The Bachelor," the show finished in the Nielsen Media Research top 20 with 13.2 million viewers. ABC scheduled an immediate rerun for this Wednesday.
ABC is considering bringing more editions of the show back, either as specials or a regular series.
In the holiday special category, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" proved last week's champ with 12.3 million viewers on CBS. Another perennial, "A Charlie Brown Christmas," was seen by just under 8 million people on ABC.
Meanwhile, CBS and NBC continued their usual tight competition for the week's top spot. CBS had 12.07 million viewers (7.8 rating, 13 share), and NBC had 12.04 million viewers for the week (7.9 rating, 13 share). NBC's rating was slightly higher because more people were watching alone in their homes.
CBS' "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" was the week's most popular show, with just under 26 million viewers. NBC's "ER" was second.
ABC averaged 9.1 million viewers for the week (6.0 rating, 10 share), Fox had 8.4 million (5.1, 8), the WB 3.7 million (2.3, 4), UPN 3.2 million (2.1, 3) and Pax TV 1.3 million (0.9, 1).
"NBC Nightly News" won the evening news race, averaging 10.9 million viewers (7.7 rating, 15 share). ABC's "World News Tonight" had 10.5 million viewers (7.4, 14) and "The CBS Evening News" had 8.4 million (6, 11).
A ratings point represents 1,067,000 households, or 1 percent of the nation's estimated 106.7 million TV homes. The share is the percentage of in-use televisions tuned to a given show.
Prime-time ratings compiled by Nielsen Media Research for Dec. 9-15. Top 20 listings include the week's ranking, with rating for the week and season-to-date rankings in parentheses.
An "X" in parentheses denotes a one-time-only presentation. The rating is the percentage of the nation's estimated 106.7 million TV homes. Each ratings point represents 1,067,000 households.
1. (1) "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," CBS, 16.1, 17.2 million homes.
2. (3) "ER," NBC, 14.7, 15.7 million homes.
3. (2) "Friends," NBC, 14.5, 15.4 million homes.
4. (6) "Law & Order," NBC, 13.0, 13.9 million homes.
5. (4) "Everybody Loves Raymond," CBS, 12.2, 13.0 million homes.
6. (7) "Survivor: Thailand," CBS, 11.1, 11.9 million homes.
7. (9) "NFL Monday Night Football: Chicago at Miami," ABC, 10.7, 11.4 million homes.
7. (9) "Scrubs," NBC, 10.7, 11.4 million homes.
7. (5) "Will & Grace," NBC, 10.7, 11.4 million homes.
10. (13) "The West Wing," NBC, 10.2, 10.9 million homes.
11. (19) "60 Minutes," CBS, 10.1, 10.8 million homes.
11. (15) "Without a Trace," CBS, 10.1, 10.8 million homes.
13. (15) "Judging Amy," CBS, 9.8, 10.4 million homes.
14. (X) "Law & Order: Criminal Intent-Friday," NBC, 9.6, 10.3 million homes.
15. (14) "Still Standing," CBS, 9.4, 10.0 million homes.
16. (33) "According to Jim," ABC, 9.3, 9.9 million homes.
17. (15) "Frasier," NBC, 9.2, 9.8 million homes.
18. (15) "Good Morning Miami," NBC, 8.9, 9.5 million homes.
19. (X) "Extreme Makeover," ABC, 8.8, 9.4 million homes.
20. (26) "8 Simple Rules," ABC, 8.6, 9.2 million homes.
-------------
21. "Third Watch," NBC, 8.5
22. "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Miami," CBS, 8.3
23. "The Guardian," CBS, 8.2
23. "NYPD Blue," ABC, 8.2
23. "The Simpsons," Fox, 8.2
26. "Fear Factor," NBC, 8.0
26. "NFL Monday Showcase," ABC, 8.0
28. "Crossing Jordan," NBC, 7.9
28. "The King of Queens," CBS, 7.9
30. "Dateline NBC-Friday," NBC, 7.8
31. "Yes, Dear," CBS, 7.6
32. "My Wife and Kids," ABC, 7.5
33. (X) "Evening with the Dixie Chicks," NBC, 7.4
34. "60 Minutes II," CBS, 7.3
34. "Becker," CBS, 7.3
34. "Ed," NBC, 7.3
34. "The Practice," ABC, 7.3
38. "Providence," NBC, 7.1
39. "CBS Sunday Movie: The Man Who Saved Christmas," CBS, 7.0
39. "King Of the Hill," Fox, 7.0
39. "NBC Sunday Night Movie: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," NBC, 7.0
42. "Dateline NBC-Tuesday," NBC, 6.9
43. (X) "Yes, Dear," CBS, 6.8
44. "George Lopez," ABC, 6.7
44. "JAG," CBS, 6.7
46. "Life With Bonnie," ABC, 6.5
47. "20/20-Friday," ABC, 6.4
47. (X) "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer," CBS, 6.4
49. "The District," CBS, 6.3
49. "Hidden Hills," NBC, 6.3
51. (X) "48 Hours," CBS, 6.2
51. "Alias," ABC, 6.2
51. "Less Than Perfect," ABC, 6.2
51. "Malcolm in the Middle," Fox, 6.2
55. "American Dreams," NBC, 6.0
56. "24," Fox, 5.9
57. "The Agency," CBS, 5.8
57. "The Amazing Race: 3," CBS, 5.8
59. "America's Funniest Home Videos," ABC, 5.7
59. "Fox NFL Sunday-post game: Green Bay at San Francisco/Dallas at New York Giants," Fox, 5.7
59. "That '70s Show," Fox, 5.7
62. (X) "Billboard Music Awards," Fox, 5.6
63. "Monk," ABC, 5.2
63. (X) "Robbie the Reindeer," CBS, 5.2
65. "Cops 2," Fox, 4.9
65. "Fastlane," Fox, 4.9
67. "The Bernie Mac Show," Fox, 4.8
68. "America's Most Wanted: America Fights Back," Fox, 4.7
68. "Cedric the Entertainer: Presents," Fox, 4.7
68. "Primetime Thursday," ABC, 4.7
71. (X) "Frosty Returns," CBS, 4.6
71. "The Wonderful World of Disney: Nancy Drew," ABC, 4.6
73. (X) "Frosty the Snowman," CBS, 4.5
74. "Andy Richter Controls the Universe," Fox, 4.4
74. (X) "Charlie Brown Christmas," ABC, 4.4
74. "Cops," Fox, 4.4
77. (X) "48 Hours," CBS, 4.3
77. (X) "Hallmark Skaters' Championship," NBC, 4.3
79. (X) "Robbie the Reindeer 2," CBS, 4.2
80. (X) "Fear Factor-Sunday," NBC, 4.1
81. "ABC Saturday Night at the Movies: Armageddon," ABC, 4.0
82. (X) "Andy Richter Controls the Universe," Fox, 3.8
83. "John Doe," Fox, 3.6
84. "7th Heaven," WB, 3.3
84. "Mds," ABC, 3.3
86. "World Wrestling Entertainment Smackdown!," UPN, 3.2
87. "Enterprise," UPN, 3.1
87. "Gilmore Girls," WB, 3.1
87. (X) "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," WB, 3.1
90. "Dinotopia," ABC, 2.9
91. (X) "Best Commercial's Never Seen," ABC, 2.8
91. (X) "Fox Movie: Drop Dead Gorgeous," Fox, 2.8
93. "Dawson's Creek," WB, 2.7
93. "Reba," WB, 2.7
93. "Smallville," WB, 2.7
96. "Firefly," Fox, 2.6
97. (X) "Grandma Got Run Over," WB, 2.5
98. (X) "GQ Men of the year Awards 2002," NBC, 2.4
98. (X) "Scooby Doo Christmas," WB, 2.4
100. "Everwood," WB, 2.3
101. "Charmed," WB, 2.2
102. "The Parkers," UPN, 2.1
103. "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," UPN, 1.9
103. "Girlfriends," UPN, 1.9
103. "Greetings From Tucson," WB, 1.9
103. "One On One," UPN, 1.9
107. "Gilmore Girls-Beginning," WB, 1.8
107. "Half and Half," UPN, 1.8
107. "The Twilight Zone," UPN, 1.8
110. "Angel," WB, 1.6
111. "Birds Of Prey," WB, 1.5
111. "The Jamie Kennedy Experiment," WB, 1.5
113. "The Jamie Kennedy Experiment 1," WB, 1.4
113. "Sue Thomas, F.B. Eye," Pax, 1.4
115. "Friday Night Flix: Santa Trap," Pax, 1.3
115. (X) "The Parkers-Tuesday," UPN, 1.3
115. "UPN's Movie Friday: Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home," UPN, 1.3
118. "Doc-Sunday," Pax, 1.2
118. (X) "One On One-Tuesday," UPN, 1.2
120. "Diagnosis Murder-Friday," Pax, 1.1
121. "Diagnosis Murder-Tuesday," Pax, 1.0
121. "Diagnosis Murder-Wednesday," Pax, 1.0
121. "Just Cause-Sunday," Pax, 1.0
121. "Weakest Link," Pax, 1.0
125. "Candid Camera-Wednesday," Pax, 0.9
125. "Diagnosis Murder-Monday," Pax, 0.9
125. (X) "Miracle Pets-Thursday," Pax, 0.9
128. "Candid Camera-Sunday," Pax, 0.8
128. "Diagnosis Murder-Thursday," Pax, 0.8
128. "Doc-Wednesday," Pax, 0.8
128. "Just Cause-Monday," Pax, 0.8
128. "Narrow Escapes," Pax, 0.8
133. (X) "Bonanza-Monday," Pax, 0.6
134. "America's Favorite Movies: Suspicion," Pax, 0.5
135. "It's a Miracle-Saturday," Pax, 0.3
On the Net:
Nielsen Media Research Web site: http://www.nielsenmedia.com
Overcast, 57 ° Humidity: 93%
Have a thought? Go to the 
Visit Augusta.com's 
