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 | | Wednesday, 9 May, 2001, 11:09 GMT 12:09 UK Stronger showing for Weakest Link  Robinson: Regaining viewers in a ruthless TV market Anne Robinson's The Weakest Link has finished its first month with a ratings rally, after 8.9 million US households watched her humiliate contestants on Monday night. The quiz show has had a roller-coaster ride from audiences and mixed reviews from critics. It reached 15, 14 and 17.5 million homes respectively on the first three nights of its opening run, easily beating other networks' shows. But it then slumped to just less than 8 million homes in its third week. 'Niche' An American television analyst said the rally suggested the show had now found its audience. Analyst Marc Berman told the New York Post newspaper: "If it had come down again I would have been concerned, but it seems to be findings its niche. "Nine out of 10 shows premi�re and then come down the second and third weeks.
The quiz was originally scheduled to run for 13 episodes but the early ratings success of the show convinced NBC bosses to extend the programme's life to 26 episodes. NBC have played on Robinson's dominatrix image, billing her as TV's rudest woman. The New York Post newspaper agreed, calling her The Host from Hell during the show's first week. May is a crucial month for US TV ratings and there had been concern the show could face the axe if it lost viewers at a time when networks are deciding advertising rates. But a recovery in audience figures would assure the future of the series, which was bought by broadcaster NBC from the BBC. | | See also:  Internet links: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Top TV and Radio stories now:  Links to more TV and Radio stories are at the foot of the page. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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