Uh oh. Things have turned. This is from Marc Berman of Media Week. Last week, AD went from a shoo-in for a full season pick-up to "On the Fence". The numbers are getting weak.

-Ratings Breakdown:
In disappointing news for NBC, Week 3 of new Sunday dramas American Dreams and Boomtown took a considerable hit with both American Dreams at 8 p.m. (6.6/10) and Boomtown at 10 p.m. (7.0/11) third in their respective time periods. Not only did Boomtown drop 29 percent from its Law & Order: Criminal Intent lead-in (#1: 9.8/14), it dipped 7 percent in rating in the second half-hour (7.3/11 to 6.8/11) -- always a dangerous sign. Compared to the year-ago Sunday (Oct. 14, 2001), American Dreams was off 24 percent from former occupant The Weakest Link (8.7/14) with Boomtown equal to former failed 10 p.m. Sunday occupant U.C.: Undercover (7.0/11).

Take a look at the three-week metered market track for both American Dreams and Boomtown:

-American Dreams: 10.0/14, 8.5/12, 6.6/10
-Boomtown: 9.9/15, 9.0/14, 7.0/11



-On the Fence (for renewal):
American Dreams (NBC), Bram & Alice (CBS), Greetings From Tucson (WB), Hidden Hills (NBC), In-Laws (NBC), Presidio Med (CBS), Robbery Homicide Division (CBS)

That's not good news. I really like the show and hope they renew it for next year. It would be a shame to have a quality show like this only last one season. JMO.

One thing that might have contributed to the ratings decline was a football game airing on CBS opposite "American Dreams". I was flipping around during commercials and noticed that the game was still on at the same time as "American Dreams". "Becker" on CBS started about 15 minutes late. It had the football game as its lead in. People watching the game probably left their TVs on CBS. That's how it was in my area.

That makes sense because I was flipping between American Dreams, Sopranos, and the Dolphins/Broncos game (I'm a huge Bronco fan!), so a lot of other people might have done the same thing. Of course I was still recording American Dreams so that I wouldn't miss a second!!!