'Dancing,' 'Geek' finish strong.(FAST TRACK)(Brief Article)

Broadcasting & Cable, July, 2005

ABC is crowing about the finale of Dancing With the Stars, and The WB is trumpeting its final installment of Beauty and the Geek. Dancing, airing at 9-10 p.m. Wednesday, garnered 22.4 million viewers (versus 19.3 million combined on the other five networks) and a 6.7 rating/19 share in adults 18-49.

The WB's Beauty finale finished first in its 8-9 p.m. Wednesday time period among adults 18-34 (2.1/8) and persons 12-34 (2.0/8) for the fifth straight week and led among women 12-34 (2.5/ 9), men 18-34 (1.9/8), men 12-34 (1.5/7) and men 18-49 (1.7/6). ABC says Dancing achieved the highest viewer and 18-49 totals of any summer series since Fox's American Idol attracted 22.8 million viewers and a 10.7/30 in 18-49 on Sept. 4, 2002.--J.E.