'ER,' 'Friends' Back in Form

By Stephen M. Silverman

Tuesday July 14, 1998 12:00 AM EDT

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America's viewing habits assumed the status quo last week, as NBC's "ER" and "Friends" (in back-to-back episodes), returned to the top perches on the Nielsen list, confirming their positions as the most-watched drama and comedy series on the air. NBC's "Will & Grace," Emmy's best comedy series, wasn't hampered at all by its new move to Thursday nights (from Tuesdays). FYI: Among the lowest-rated shows were ABC's "The Trouble With Normal," NBC's "Daddio" and "Tucker," CBSs "City of Angels" and "Diagnosis Murder," Fox's "Freakylinks" and the WB's "Grosse Pointe." (The rating is the percentage of the nation's estimated 100.8 million TV homes. Each ratings point represents 1,008,000 households.) The top 10 for the week of Oct. 9-15:

1. "ER," NBC, 19.2, 19.8 million homes 2. "Friends - 8:30," NBC, 18.0, 18.5 million homes

3. "Friends," NBC, 16.6, 17.0 million homes

4. "Will & Grace," NBC, 15.8, 16.1 million homes

5. "NFL Monday Night Football: Tampa Bay at Minnesota," ABC, 14.9, 15.2 million homes

6. "Who Wants to be a Millionaire - Tuesday," ABC, 14.5, 14.8 million homes

7. "Who Wants to be a Millionaire - Wednesday," ABC, 13.9, 14.2 million homes

8. "Everybody Loves Raymond," CBS, 13.7, 14.0 million homes

9. "Who Wants to be a Millionaire - Sunday," ABC, 13.5, 13.8 million homes

10. "Just Shoot Me," NBC, 13.3, 13.6 million homes