Between Nina Tassler's tantalizing promise that CBS would "push the envelope" and the Parents Television Council's early condemnation of the program as "one of the most sexually indulgent shows we've seen on broadcast television in a long time," you'd had thought "Swingtown" was the Sodom and Gomorrah of summer television, wall to wall with hot bodies and steamy sex.

Ironically, the PTC actually oversold the show's salaciousness. And a wary CBS seems to have undersold the sizzle it did have.

But apart from Lana Parrilla's eye-catching retro swimwear and the recurring nods to amorous air crews, "Swingtown" turned out to be a compelling family drama -- not exactly for the family, but about the family.

While its opening credits breezily flipped through the iconic images of the decade (from Jimmy Carter campaign buttons to Farrah Fawcett's famous poster) "Swingtown" at its core has been all about reflective pauses: a suburban couple who married early and wonder about the roads not taken; a pair of wedded traditionals buffeted by the changes in society and their own gender roles; teens looking to find their own path while their parents veered from the traditional one. Adding further irony -- given all the hype about the show's presumed assault on mainstream morality -- even the show's swinging adventurers, Tom and Trina, ended up heading down the road toward conventionality as they pondered the responsibility of having a child.

Tuesday was a hot night for "Hell's Kitchen" as Gordon Ramsay's cooking competish winnowed to the final four.

Even against Game 3 of the Lakers-Celtics battle in the NBA Finals, Fox's "Kitchen" pulled an impressive 4.2 rating/12 share in the adults 18-49 demo and 8.3 million viewers from 9-10 p.m.

Fox touted the show's feat in reaching its highest marks in adults 18-34 (4.3/12) outside of a finale telecast or airing behind an installment of "American Idol." The tune-in for "Kitchen" was very strong, coming out of its 8 p.m. "Moment of Truth" lead-in (6 mil, 2.4/8).

"Lost" stomped all over the competish in its return to ABC's sked on Thursday. "Eli Stone" had a harder time of it in its debut.

The 9 p.m. fourth season premiere seg drew 16.1 million viewers and 6.7 rating/16 share in the adults 18-49 demo, per Nielsen prelims. The 8 p.m. "Lost" clip show did a healthy 13.1 million 4.9/13 in the key demo.

"Lost's" premiere ratings were down from last season's opener (18.8 million, 7.7/19), but we all know last night's numbers will balloon when DVR viewing sources are factored in week after next.

Kind of a mixed bag for the 10 p.m. bow of ABC's dramedy "Eli Stone." The well-reviewed drama about an idealistic lawyer who begins to realize that he's a prophet had a hard time hanging on to "Lost's" coattails. It opened to 11.6 million viewers and 4.2/11 in 18-49. Not great, but not terrible either, and it is an improvement over the perf of "Lost" companion "The Nine" last season.

-- Cynthia Littleton

"Women's Murder Club" lured most of its members back in the ABC drama's second outing Friday, while Fox's "The Next Great American Band" played to less than a capacity crowd in its two-hour debut.

ABC's femme gumshoe ensembler (pictured left) averaged 9.7 million viewers and 2.0 rating/6 share in the adults 18-49 demo, per prelim Nielsens. That was down about 1 million viewers and one-half of a demo point from "Murder's" strong (by Friday night standards) preem last week. Perhaps the most important sign of life for "Murder" was that it once again jumped noticeably from its 8 p.m. "20/20" (6.8 million, 1.7/6) lead-in.

"Murder" tied with CBS' 10 p.m. anchor "Numbers" (9.7 million, 2.7/9) for bragging rights as the night's most watched program, though CBS' egghead hour won by a wide margin in the demo. And CBS' frosh 9 p.m. drama "Moonlight" (7.8 million, 2.1/7) topped "Murder" by a razor-thin margin in adults 18-49 for the hour.

Fox's "The Next Great American Band" didn't throw off too many sparks, finishing out its 8-10 p.m. opener with an average of 3.6 million viewers and 1.5/5 in adults 18-49.

Inexplicably, the single-best drama on TV (IMHO, until "Lost" comes back and then it's probably a tie), NBC's "Friday Night Lights" (5.5 million, 1.9/6), continues to pull only modest numbers. But thankfully, on a night when the ratings bar is set pretty low, show's demos are respectable enough, and reviews glowing enough, to keep hope alive.

So far this season, Brad Leland (pictured right), who plays "FNL's" garrulous car dealership owner and self-appointed No. 1 high school football booster Buddy Garrity, is shining particularly bright amid the stellar constellation of thesps on this show as his character is enduring all kinds of emotional torment and mid-life crises. Can't wait for next week's installment.

--Cynthia Littleton

(No kidding folks, it was one of those days around the ol' Variety newsroom and I'm only now getting the time to peek at last night's ratings.)

While "Samantha Who?" ranked low on most Season Pass-ers list of new show picks, America disagreed, or at least there was plenty of curiosity to see whatever became of Kelly Bundy. The ABC comedy starring Christina Applegate premiered very well Monday in the 9:30 p.m. slot behind a 90-minute "Dancing With the Stars."

Laffer made the most of its strong lead-in to finish out with 14.4 million viewers and 4.5 rating/10 share in the adults 18-49 demographic, coming out of 19.4 million and 4.7/12 for "Dancing," per Nielsen.

Interesting to also see in the 8 p.m. competish that NBC's "Chuck" (8.4 million, 3.3/9) and CBS' 8:30 p.m. frosh "The Big Bang Theory" (7.9 million, 3.1/8) seem to have have found a comfortable level of respectable ratings -- even against the wild card factor of Fox's primetime coverage of the American League championship series between the BoSox and Cleveland Indians (go Cleveland!). Gee, maybe there's hope for broadcast TV after all...

--Cynthia Littleton

"Women's Murder Club" drew a crowd for ABC in its Friday premiere. Gumshoe drama starring Angie Harmon, Paula Newsome, Laura Harris and Aubrey Dollar (pictured left) opened to a strong (by Friday night standards) 10.8 million viewers and 2.5 rating/8 share in the adults 18-49 demo in the 9 p.m. hour, per prelim Nielsens.

"Murder Club" didn't get much help from its 8 p.m. lead-in, newsmag "20/20" (5.6 million, 1.6/6) and it appeared to out-perform Fox's coverage of the American League Championship series (reliable national ratings figs for the live sports telecast won't be available until Monday.) It also picked up about 350,000 viewers at the half-hour mark.

CBS' vampire-detective skein "Moonlight" (7.3 million, 2.0/6) felt the competition from ABC's lady sleuths as it dropped by nearly 2 million viewers in its third outing. The debut of "Murder Club" and the baseball post-season action also put a dent in the turnout for NBC's "Friday Night Lights" (5.4 million, 1.7/5) which dropped from last week's solid sophomore season preem. ("FNL's" Zach Gilford pictured right)

The momentum from "Murder Club" didn't help ABC's sophomore drama "Men in Trees" (7.05 million, 1.9/6), which slipped to third place at 10 p.m. behind CBS' "Numbers" (9.1 million, 2.5/8) and NBC's "Las Vegas" (7.13 million, 2.1/6).

--Cynthia Littleton

"Pushing Daisies" held up pretty well in its second outing Wednesday, but it's "Private Practice" that's really looking like a hit for ABC. NBC's "Bionic Woman" dipped in week three, but not precipitously.

Meanwhile, Fox's "Back to You" and CBS' "Kid Nation" had a tough time in the 8 p.m. hour. "Pushing Daisies" (10.1 million, 3.6 rating/11 share) led the hour in the adults 18-49 demo and held the majority, if not vast majority, of its premiere aud last week (13 million, 4.3/13). NBC's "Deal or No Deal" (12.5 million, 3.1/9) regained some of the aud it lost last week to "Daisies" (pictured left). Same could not be said for "Back to You" (6.5 million, 2.2/7) or "Kid Nation" (7 million, 2.0/6).

At 9 p.m., "Bionic Woman" (10.1 million, 3.8/8) improved in the demo on its "Deal" lead-in. CBS' "Criminal Minds" (14.5 million, 3.8/8) led the frame in viewers but "Practice" (12.2 million, 4.8/12) won the demo by a comfortable margin, up slightly from its second outing last week. CW's "Gossip Girl" (2.9 million, 1.7/5 in adults 18-34) got lost in the fray but no matter; the frosh sudser earned a full season pickup from CW on Wednesday. Fox's "Kitchen Nightmares" (6.5 million, 3.0/8) was in its regular zone of the past few weeks.

At 10 p.m., it looks like time is running out on NBC's drama "Life" (8.1 million, 2.8/8). ABC's "Dirty Sexy Money" (8.9 million, 3.4/9) is better off, but it also has a better lead-in. CBS' "CSI: NY" (13.3 million, 4.0/11) easily took the hour.

For the nightly bragging rights overall, it was ABC in 18-49 (3.9/11) and CBS in viewers (11.6 million.)

--Cynthia Littleton

Tuesday is proving a tough slog for the season's newcomers. ABC's "Cavemen" (pictured left) and "Carpoolers" took a tumble in their second outings. CBS' "Cane" is still slippery and CW's "Reaper" can't catch a break against the flames of Fox's "House."

After last week's respectable opening, ABC's 8-9 p.m. comedy duo dropped by about 2 million viewers apiece in week two and two 18-49 demo share points. "Cavemen" finished out at 8 p.m. with 7 million viewers and 2.5 rating/8 share in the adults 18-49 demographic (compared to last week's 9.2 million, 3.5/10), while "Carpoolers" rallied a tiny bit at 8:30 with 7.3 million and 2.8/8 (compared to its debut at 9.1 million, 3.5/9), per prelim Nielsens.

CBS' "NCIS" had no trouble taking the 8 p.m. hour in viewers (16.1 million) and 18-49 (3.4/10). Fox topped  the night overall with 9 p.m. inferno "House" (17.7 million, 7.3/18), though ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" (16 million, 4.0/10) was competitive in the hour in viewers. CW's "Reaper" (pictured right) managed 2.7 million and 1.5/4 in adults 18-34. At 10 p.m., CBS' "Cane" was on par with last week at 9.1 million and 2.3/7, but still off its lead-in from "The Unit" (11.1 million, 3.0/7).

--Cynthia Littleton

One of the many great moments from this week's second season premiere of "30 Rock" came when Kenneth the page started humming the theme to "Seinfeld"-- while in an elevator with Jerry Seinfeld. Every facial muscle dripping with exasperation, Seinfeld offered a one-word response to Kenneth's well-intentioned homage: "Really?"

That's the same reaction I had Saturday morning when I called the ratings hotlines at a couple of the nets in order to find out how the first new episode of "Friday Night Lights" performed. It's make-or-break time for what's quite possibly TV's best show, and I wanted to know if viewers found the show on its new night.

"Due to Nielsen processing issues," the voice on Fox's hotline began....and that's all I had to hear. I've called the hotlines enough times to know that when the voice on the other end mentions "processing issues," Nielsen's screwed up-- again. Sometimes the delays are just a few hours, but often times, it can be a full day before the ratings monopoly gets its act together and issues a report.

I understand a delay when there's a big snowstorm back east or a hurricane in the south. I can even forgive Nielsen for taking an extra day during the holidays.

But lately, Nielsen seems to have "processing issues" at least a couple times a month. And it always seems to occur when there's some big series premiere or special event for which everyone's dying to hear the ratings. There's been at least one other delay since the season started two weeks ago.

For the networks who shell out millions to Nielsen every year in order to obtain quick, accurate results, it has to be maddening that the company seems to be finding it more and more difficult to make so-called "fast national" ratings live up to their name. And for producers like those on "Friday Night Lights," it must be torture waiting an extra day to see just how steep their uphill battle will be this season.

Unfortunately, Nielsen seems to be getting no better at reducing its processing issues. And the extra day the biz had to wait for the Oct. 5 ratings isn't even Nielsen's biggest bumbling act of the season.

What really has execs pulling their hair out is the fact that it's going to take Nielsen a full three weeks to hand out final DVR data (so-called "live plus seven" ratings). That's right: In an era in which box office watchers can figure out how a movie will do after just a few east coast screenings, the TV biz has to wait nearly a month to find out exactly how well its shows are performing.

Really?

UPDATE: While the nets didn't update their ratings hotlines, looks like Nielsen finally issued numbers Saturday night. The good news: "Friday Night Lights" actually won its timeslot, tying with CBS's "Moonlight." The bad news: Both shows posted a very modest 2.2/7 among adults 18-49, a sign broadcasters will continue to struggle to draw auds on Friday nights.

--Josef Adalian

ABC's 8 p.m. seedling "Pushing Daisies" got off to a good start, drawing 12.8 million viewers and 4.2 rating/12 share in the adults 18-49 demo.

"Daisies" (pictured left) easily led its time period and built slightly at the half-hour mark, per prelim Nielsens. Show was boffo with femmes, thanks no doubt to the charms of star Lee Pace. It drew 5.3 rating in women 18-49, 4.2 in W18-34 and 6.3 in W25-54.

The presence of "Daisies" hammered Fox's 8 p.m. anchor "Back to You" (6.6 million, 2.4/7) to its lowest score yet in three airings. CBS' "Kid Nation" started out soft in its first half-hour but jumped by more than 1 million viewers in the second half to finish out in third place, behind NBC's "Deal or No Deal" (11.1 million, 2.8/8), with 7.5 million viewers and 2.4/7 in the demo.

ABC got more good news at 9 p.m. as "Private Practice" (pictured right) held up well in its second outing with 12.3 million viewers and 4.5/11 in 18-49. NBC's competing "Bionic Woman" took a tumble from its premiere outing last  week but still delivered a credible 10.9 million viewers and 4.0/10 in the demo.

CBS' "Criminal Minds" was also a factor at 9 p.m., winning the hour in viewers (14.4 million, 3.7/9) and undoubtedly siphoning off a few demo points from the competish. CW's "Gossip Girl" (2.8 million) was pounded by the surprisingly strong young-femme appeal of "Practice," which scored a 6.2 in women 18-34 to "Gossip's" 2.7. "Gossip" nonetheless had the teen aud sewn up with a time slot leading 2.5.

At 10 p.m., week two of ABC's "Dirty Sexy Money" (9.7 million, 3.6.10) was again a little soft coming out of its "Private Practice" lead-in. NBC's "Life" (8.8 million, 3.0/8) had the same problem going up against CBS' incumbent "CSI: NY" (12.7 million, 3.9/10).

Overall, ABC led the night in 18-49 (4.1/11) and narrowly beat CBS for the total viewer crown too (ABC's 11.61 million average to CBS' 11.55 million). Click here for a full rundown of the night from Variety and Season Pass-er Rick Kissell.

-- Cynthia Littleton

"Cavemen" and "Carpoolers" opened respectably on Tuesday in the 8 p.m. hour. It's always a tough assignment for two new shows to lead off the night, especially for shows that have been beaten up pretty good by crix.

The dawn of "Cavemen" (pictured left) brought in 9 million homo sapiens and 3.3 rating/10 share in the adults 18-49 demo, per prelim Nielsens. At 8:30 p.m., "Carpoolers" (pictured below) held the crowd, averaging 9 million commuters and 3.4/9 in the key demo, and that was enough to keep the ABC comedies in second place for the hour behind CBS' ever-popular "NCIS" (16.3 million, 3.6/10).

ABC's fortunes perked up at 9 p.m. with the "Dancing with the Stars" results show (15.7 million, 4.3/10) but Fox topped the hour with another strong perf from "House" (17.3 million, 7.1/17). Sadly, CW's much-loved 9 p.m. entry "Reaper" (2.8 million, 1.6/4 in adults 18-34) isn't scaring up much business in its tough  time slot, though it is a positive sign that "Reaper" ranked No. 2 to "House" for the hour in the dude demos of men 18-24 (2.3) and male teens (1.7).

At 10 p.m., CBS' "Cane" (9.2 million, 2.5/7) was pretty soft against NBC's "Law & Order: SVU" (11.7 million, 4.5/12), which is also off its usual game, and ABC's "Boston Legal" (10.9 million, 3.1/8).

With the aud transfusion supplied by "House," Fox had no trouble winning the night overall in viewers (12.6 million) and adults 18-49 (5.0/13).

--Cynthia Littleton

There was "House," and then there was everything else in primetime last night.

CW's much-loved "Reaper" (pictured left) and CBS' "Cane" (pictured below) fell into the solid-not-sensational category in their Tuesday debuts. "Reaper's" job was made much tougher by having to go head to head at 9 p.m. against the heat of Fox's "House" which was a strong draw among the same 18-34 demo targeted by "Reaper."

CW's devilish dramedy bowed to 3.2 million viewers and 1.8 rating/5 share in the 18-34 demo. (By contrast, the withering sneer of Hugh Laurie as Dr. House brought in 18.1 million viewers and 7.5/20 in adults 18-34. In 18-49 "House" pulled a 7.7/19.)

At 10 p.m., CBS' "Cane" came in ahead of the final hour of ABC's 90-minute "Boston Legal" season preem. Jimmy Smits and Co. drew an average of 11.1 million viewers and 2.9/8 in adults 18-49, which CBS was quick to note marked the Eye's best preem in that time slot since "Judging Amy" in 1999.

As has become a regular feature of ratings releases, CBS is predicting that "Cane's" numbers will bump up by about 9% in adults 18-49 when DVR playback is factored in during the next few days.

Click here for the lowdown on the entire night from Variety and Season Pass' hard-working Rick Kissell.

--Cynthia Littleton

The big winners of Monday: ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" and NBC's "Heroes."

NBC's "Chuck" and CBS' "Big Bang Theory" (pictured left) qualify for OK starts -- not terrific but not terrible.

On the not-so-hot side, NBC's "Journeyman," which didn't make much of its "Heroes" lead-in. And CBS' "CSI: Miami" was surprisingly sluggish in its premiere, though it did still win its 10 p.m. time slot by a comfortable margin.

The 8-9:30 p.m. "Dancing with the Stars" was the night's most-watched program with 21.2 million hoofers tuning in. "Dancing" was also second for the night in the adults 18-49 demo derby to NBC's "Heroes" ("Heroes" pulled 6.5 rating/15 share and 14.1 million viewers; "Dancing" scored 5.8/15 in the demo.)

"Chuck's" maiden voyage at 8 p.m. averaged 9.3 million viewers and 3.6/9 in 18-49. At 8:30 p.m. "Big Bang Theory" grew from its "How I Met Your Mother" lead-in to finish out with 9.6 million and 3.7/9, coming out of "Mother's" 8.3 million and 3.2/9.

"Journeyman" fell from its "Heroes" lead-in to 9.5 million viewers and 3.7/9. "CSI: Miami" was off its usual game in its sixth season opener with an average of 14.8 million viewers and 4.6/12.

Bragging rights for the night went to ABC in both key measures of viewers (15.4 million average for the night) and adults 18-49 (4.7/12, narrowly beating NBC's 4.6/11).

Click here for a complete rundown of Monday night ratings follies from Variety ratings guru and Season Pass contributor Rick Kissell.

--Cynthia Littleton

Wednesday's newcomers got off to fair-to-middling starts, per the prelim Nielsens. (Click here for a full rundown of the night by Variety ratings guru and Season Pass contributor Rick Kissell.)

Fox's "Back to You" won its 8 p.m. timeslot in adults 18-49, but didn't have the kind of opening night drawing power you'd expect for the combo of Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton. Sitcom averaged 3.1/10 ratings share in the key demo and 9.5 million viewers overall.

For all the advance hoopla, CBS' "Kid Nation" didn't do a whole lot of business for the Eye in its 8 p.m. debut, pulling in about 9 million viewers and 3.0/9 ratings share in adults 18-49.

Gordon Ramsay's numbers also cooled off after his hot summer in "Hell's Kitchen." Chef's new show "Kitchen Nightmares" followed Fox's sitcom block at 9 p.m. with 6.6 million viewers and 3.1/8 in the demo.

CW had something to talk about with the 9 p.m. bow of "Gossip Girl." Show wasn't so hot in overall viewers, drawing about 3.7 million, but scored in its target demos of women 18-34 (3.2/9) and femme teens (5.3/17).

--Cynthia Littleton

It was mostly bon ton roulette time for Fox's "K-Ville" in its debut Monday in the 9 p.m. slot behind "Prison Break."

"K-Ville," starring Anthony Anderson and Cole Hauser as tough cops in post-Katrina New Orleans, pulled in a credible 9 million viewers and 3.4 rating/8 share in the adults 18-49 demo, according to prelim Nielsens. Undoubtedly Fox would've liked to have seen a higher demo number, but it's a start. Most importantly, show built on its "Prison Break" lead-in -- not by much, but inching up is better than going the other way. (Click here for a rundown of Monday night's primetime action by Variety ratings guru and Season Pass contributor Rick Kissell.)

Fox brass have to be encouraged by the solid male demo numbers that "K-Ville" garnered -- including a 3.1/8 in men 18-49 and 3.7/8 in men 25-54. However, "Prison Break" had a much stronger hold on the men 18-34 crowd, averaging a 3.1/10 to "K-Ville's" 2.3/7.

--Cynthia Littleton