By David Bauder, Media Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --Tucker Carlson drew the television equivalent of a royal flush on the week before Labor Day.
The controversial Fox News Channel personality had all five of his weeknight programs land in the Nielsen company's 20 most popular programs last week. Four of them were in the Top 10.
Fox's Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham, as well as MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, all had programs in the Top 20 last week, a reflection of interest in the presidential campaign as well as the relative paucity of entertainment options on broadcast television.
None of the broadcast networks topped an average of three million viewers in primetime last week.
NBC, with 2.82 million, narrowly edged ABC's 2.81 million viewers. CBS had 2.6 million, Univision had 1.3 million, ION Television had 1.2 million, Fox had 1.17 million and Telemundo had 1.1 million.
Fox News Channel led the way among cable networks, averaging 3.43 million viewers in primetime last week. MSNBC had 2.11 million, TNT had 1.74 million, ESPN had 1.49 million and TLC had 1.28 million.
ABC's "World News Tonight" led the evening news ratings race with an average of 8.2 million viewers. NBC's "Nightly News" had 7.3 million and the "CBS Evening News" had 5.3 million.
For the week of Aug. 31-Sept. 6, the 20 most-watched programs, their networks and viewerships:
1. "60 Minutes," CBS, 6.45 million.
2. "America's Got Talent" (Tuesday), NBC, 6.41 million.
3. "America's Got Talent" (Wednesday), NBC, 5.66 million.
4. NBA Playoffs: Houston vs. L.A. Lakers (Sunday), ABC, 5.43 million.
5. "Tucker Carlson Tonight" (Monday), Fox News, 4.94 million.
6. "Tucker Carlson Tonight" (Tuesday), Fox News, 4.92 million.
7. "Hannity" (Tuesday), Fox News, 4.85 million.
8. "Tucker Carlson Tonight" (Wednesday), Fox News, 4.8 million.
9. "Tucker Carlson Tonight" (Thursday), Fox News, 4.79 million.
10. "Hannity" (Wednesday), Fox News, 4.67 million.
11. "NCIS," CBS, 4.31 million.
12. NBA Playoffs: Oklahoma City vs. Houston (Wednesday), ESPN, 4.29 million.
13. "Big Brother" (Thursday), CBS, 4.24 million.
14. "Hannity" (Thursday), Fox News, 4.17 million.
15. "Big Brother (Wednesday), CBS, 4.162 million.
16. "The Ingraham Angle" (Monday), Fox News, 4.16 million.
17. "Transplant," NBC, 3.96 million.
18. "The Rachel Maddow Show" (Tuesday), MSNBC, 3.873 million.
19. "Tucker Carlson Tonight" (Friday), Fox News, 3.832 million.
20. "The Ingraham Angle" (Tuesday), Fox News, 3.828 million.
“Scandal” cast will reunite for online script reading for hurricane relief in western North Carolina
The cast of ABC's hit political drama "Scandal" may need to brush up on their snappy, speedy delivery known as "Scandal-pace," because they're reuniting for a good cause. Its stars including Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn and Bellamy Young will take part in a live virtual script reading on Nov. 17 to raise money for hurricane relief in western North Carolina.
Beginning Friday, fans can go online and donate to reserve a spot for the online reading. Proceeds will benefit United Way of North Carolina. Everyone who donates will be able to take part in a virtual pre-event with the cast and Shonda Rhimes will give an introduction.
Additional guest stars will also be announced. The online fundraising platform Prizeo is also holding a contest where one person who donates online via their site will be selected to read a role from the script with the actors. The winner should not worry about the "Scandal"-pace, assured Young over Zoom.
"Whomever the lucky reader is can read at whatever pace they want," she said.
Young, who played Mellie Young, the first lady and later Republican presidential nominee on "Scandal," was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. She came up with the idea for the effort with a friend and took it to her fellow "Scandal" actors, who all jumped on board. Young said this is the first script reading the cast has all done together since the show ended after seven seasons in 2018.
Which episode they will be reading has not been announced yet.
Young said it's "been devastating" to see so many parts of her hometown badly damaged by Hurricane Helene, which ravaged western North Carolina one month ago.
To research the best use for donations, Young spoke with numerous political leaders, including North... Read More