'Friends' vs. 'Survivor': The Networks Face Off

THE BAD Like we said: the Millionaire fiasco. "Did we burn it out by running it too much?" says Bader. "We don't know. But the high point of the show is behind us." Ditto for Jason Alexander's sitcom Bob Patterson (No. 66), which self-helped itself to cancellation. And what about No. 69 What About Joan? Axed—just like the John Stamos-led Thieves (No. 78). On the fast fade: The Drew Carey Show (No. 51, down from No. 34 last season) and Dharma & Greg (No. 58, down from No. 37). Completely underground: Mole 2 (No. 97, down from The Mole's No. 34).
THE UPSHOT Millionaire's bankrupt; time to bankroll a new hit comedy ASAP.
MIDSEASON HOPEFULS The family sitcom The George Lopez Show; inside-a-network comedy The Web.

FOX
No. 4 in total viewers; tied for No. 2 among 18-49-year-olds

THE GOOD God bless the Sunday funnies of No. 25 The Simpsons and No. 26 Malcolm in the Middle. The Bernie Mac Show (No. 26 in 18-49) boasts breakout potential, while Boston Public earns high marks on Mondays at No. 28. "It's doing what you want a sophomore show to do—building on last year," says Fox exec VP Preston Beckman.
THE BAD For being the most hyped show this fall, 24 is pretty low-key at No. 59. "It's tough to launch a serialized drama on this network," reasons Beckman. 24's lead-in, underdog collegecom Undeclared (No. 69) didn't help matters, but at least those wacky kids did better than The Tick (nixed at No. 103), Dark Angel (No. 85, down more than a third from last year), and murder mystery Pasadena (No. 111). And from the Harsh Reality file: Temptation Island 2 was marooned at No. 95 (it was No. 15 last year), while Love Cruise washed up at No. 85. Speaking of sinking ships, The X-Files (No. 62) and Ally McBeal (No. 54) are netting their lowest numbers ever.
THE UPSHOT Sure, you've had some setbacks, but if the success of The Simpsons and Malcolm tells you anything, it's this: Quirky programming is your bread and butter.
MIDSEASON HOPEFULS Female-abroad dramedy The American Embassy; office comedy Andy Richter Controls the Universe.

UPN
No. 5 in total viewers; No. 5 among 18-49-year-olds

THE GOOD UPN is boldly going up the charts, thanks to the latest Star Trek series, Enterprise (No. 83). "It's similar to why JAG is doing well now," says UPN COO Adam Ware. "There's a patriotism to it." WWF Smackdown! still packs a punch at No. 85, and No. 101 Buffy the Vampire Slayer draws nearly a million more viewers in its new home, unlike...
THE BAD ...fellow WB exile Roswell, which alienated a million from last year (No. 119).
THE UPSHOT Now that Enterprise and Buffy have snapped viewers to attention, it's time to give both shows worthy, hip dramatic companions.
MIDSEASON HOPEFULS The urban teen dramedy As If; three-roomies sitcom The Random Years.

THE WB
No. 6 in total viewers; No. 6 among 18-49-year-olds

THE GOOD It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's a superstrategy for reinventing Tuesdays! With Buffy gone, The WB moved in Gilmore Girls (No. 100, up 54 percent from last year) and debuted Boy of Steel drama Smallville (No. 94, the net's second-highest-rated show behind No. 75 7th Heaven). "It's the biggest hit we put on in terms of immediate attention, immediate stars since Dawson's Creek," says WB prez Jordan Levin. Reba McEntire's familycom, Reba, is also showing strength, charting at No. 106.
THE BAD Sunday's The Steve Harvey Show, Off Centre, Nikki, and Men, Women & Dogs all cracked the top 10... least-watched shows on TV, joined by Popstars 2 (No. 121) and Elimidate Deluxe (No. 126).
THE UPSHOT Superboy is superb, but hook up Reba with some decent comedic company.
MIDSEASON HOPEFULS Struggling-band sitcom Young Person's Guide to Becoming a Rock Star; Candid Camera-ish series The Jamie Kennedy Experiment.