'CSI' Still on Top Despite Rerun Season

By Stephen M. Silverman

Wednesday June 04, 2003 03:14 PM EDT

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The list may look the same, but the numbers sure don't.

So, while CBS's "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" proved to be, as usual, the most-watched show on TV, its viewing audience was half what it usually is.

Why? It's rerun season.

"CSI"'s audience of 13.3 million paled in comparison to its average of 26.2 million for the TV season, which officially ended May 21 -- best known as the night "American Idol" crowned Ruben Studdard, the Associated Press reports.

As for the new summer shows, NBC's latest version of "Fame," starring Debbie Allen, debuted with 10.6 million viewers, and CBS's fourth edition of "The Amazing Race" (9.9 million) debuted to respectable but far from spectacular numbers last week, according to Nielsen Media Research.

The Top 10 shows for the week of May 26-June 1 were as follows:

1. "CSI," CBS, 13.3 million viewers
2. "48 Hours Investigates," CBS, 12.2 million
3. "Law & Order," NBC, 12 million
4. "Everybody Loves Raymond," CBS, 11.9 million
5. "CSI: Miami," CBS, 11.6 million
6. "Will & Grace," NBC, 11.3 million
7. "CBS Sunday Movie," CBS, 11 million
8. "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," NBC, 10.9 million
9. "60 Minutes," CBS, 10.9 million
10. "Friends," NBC, 10.8 million