The American people love a good forensic drama. That was obvious already. But who knew how desperately viewers were yearning a sentimental telefilm with Tom Selleck? Carried by those two desires, CBS staged a rout on Sunday night.

Overall, CBS averaged a 10.1 rating/16 share. Second place NBC was well back with a 7.7/12, while the other networks lagged even further behind. ABC took third with a 5.7/9 and FOX was fourth at 5.2/8. The WB trailed with a 2.9/5.

NBC actually took first in the demographic race, earning a 4.0 rating among adults 18-49. FOX was second with a 3.7 rating, while CBS and ABC tied at 3.3. The WB averaged a 2.0 rating.

The night began strong for CBS as "60 Minutes" carried the 7 p.m. hour with a 9.2/16. FOX took second with a 6.7/12 averaged between NFL overrun and the screening of "There's Something About Mary." NBC was third for the hour with the 6.2/11 for "Dateline NBC." ABC was fourth with "America's Funniest Home Videos." The WB was well behind with a 1.4/3 for a reairing of Hilary Duff's birthday special.

At 8 p.m., CBS launched the new crime drama "Cold Case" to an impressive 10.4/16, making it the night's highest rated individual program. NBC was a distant third with the 6.0/10 season premiere of "American Dreams." The ABC cop dramedy "10-8" premiered with a 5.7/9, beating out the second hour of the Cameron Diaz movie on FOX. The season premiere of "Charmed" earned a strong 3.4/5 in its first hour on The WB.

NBC moved up to first at 9 p.m. with the 10.2/15 season premiere of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent." CBS was in second for the hour with the first hour of the Tom Selleck original film "12 Mile Road" (the movie averaged a 10.3/16 across its two hours) .The season premiere of "Alias" earned a 5.9/9 on ABC, beating the 4.5/7 for the final hour of "Mary" on FOX. The WB put up a good fight with the 4.0/6 for the second hour of "Charmed."

CBS was back in the lead at 10 p.m. with the conclusion of "12 Mile Road." On NBC, Rob Lowe's legal drama "Lyon's Den" premiered with an 8.4/14 (though the show's ratings dipped in its second half hour). The premiere of ABC's revamped "The Practice" earned a 6.7/11.

As per Sunday usual, CBS started the night strong and NBC came back, though CBS' Sunday movie was strong enough to hold off the competition for the nightly victory.

Overall, CBS averaged a 5.8 rating/11 share, well in front of NBC's 5.0/9. FOX and ABC both put up a 3.4/6. In metered markets, The WB had a 2.2/4.

Among adult 18-49, NBC moved to the front with a 2.7 rating. FOX was second a 2.5, as CBS fell to third with a 2.0. Bringing up the back was ABC with a 1.7 rating in the demographic.

At 7 p.m., CBS had the night's highest rated program, as "60 Minutes" took a 7.7/16 for the hour. NBC was second with a 5.0/10 for "Dateline." The first half of ABC's screening of the movie "Paulie" earned a 3.5/7 to beat "Futurama" and "Banzai" on FOX. On The WB, "Gilmore Girls" had a 2.1/4 for the hour.

CBS stayed in the lead at 8 p.m. as "Becker" and the beginning of the Sunday movie, "Instinct," averaged a 4.9/9. ABC was second with the conclusion of "Paulie." On FOX, "The Simpsons" (4.0/7) and "King of the Hill" (3.7/7) edged out the 3.5/7 for "American Dreams" on NBC. The WB's "Charmed" averaged a 2.3/4.

NBC moved in front at 9 p.m.as "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" took in a 6.3/11 for the hour. CBS was second with the second hour of "Instinct." FOX stayed third as two episodes of "Malcolm in the Middle" combined for a 3.9/7. On ABC, "Alias" trailed with a 2.4/4. "Charmed" gave The WB another 2.3/4 for the hour.

At 10 p.m CBS moved back into first with the 5.6/10 conclusion of "Instinct." In its third week, "The Restaurant" dropped a little to a 5.3/10, but still beat "The Practice" on ABC.

Nearly all of the network's 2003-04 schedule will premiere the week of Monday, Sept. 22. The exceptions are new drama "Las Vegas" and returning comedies "Good Morning, Miami" and "Scrubs." All three will debut the following week after making room for extended premieres of other shows.

Among the premiere-week goodies are a two-hour "Fear Factor," a one-hour "Frasier" and "super-sized" editions of "Friends" and "Will & Grace." A Vegas-set "Fear Factor" the following week will lead into the premiere of "Las Vegas."

Monday, Sept. 22

8 p.m.: "Fear Factor"
10 p.m.: "Third Watch" (new timeslot)

Tuesday, Sept. 23

8 p.m.: "Whoopi"
8:30 p.m.: "Happy Family"
9 p.m.: "Frasier" (one-hour premiere)
10 p.m.: "Law & Order: SVU" (new timeslot)

Wednesday, Sept. 24

8 p.m.: "Ed"
9 p.m.: "The West Wing"
10 p.m.: "Law & Order"

Thursday, Sept. 25

8 p.m.: "Friends" ("super-sized" episode)
8:45 p.m.: "Will & Grace" ("super-sized" episode)
9:30 p.m.: "Coupling"
10 p.m.: "ER"

Friday, Sept. 26

8 p.m.: "Miss Match"
9 p.m.: "Dateline"
10 p.m.: "Boomtown" (new timeslot)

Saturday, Sept. 27

8 p.m.: NBC Saturday Movie

Sunday, Sept. 28

7 p.m.: "Dateline"
8 p.m.: "American Dreams"
9 p.m.: "Law & Order: Criminal Intent
10 p.m.: "The Lyon's Den"

Monday, Sept. 29

9 p.m.: "Las Vegas"

Tuesday, Sept. 30

9:30 p.m.: "Good Morning, Miami" (new timeslot)

Thursday, Oct. 1

8:30 p.m.: "Scrubs"

In case you nodded off the first time we told you, we'll repeat ourselves: Not only is American Dreams the rare family drama that you can actually watch with your family, but the 1960s-set sleeper hit is the only show on TV that leads you onto the dance floor by tugging at your heartstrings. Now you have no excuse not to tune in, either: Beginning Sunday, Aug. 3, NBC is replaying pivotal episodes from the first season, during which high school hoofers Meg Pryor (Brittany Snow) and Roxanne Bojarksi (Vanessa Lengies) tried out for American Bandstand.

Besides, if you don't get acquainted with the golden girls this summer — and trust us, to know them is to love them — you won't have any idea how funny executive producer Jonathan Prince's plans really are for boisterous, boy-crazy Roxanne. "I think what we want to do with her," he reveals to TV Guide Online, "is what most teenagers [of that bygone era] did, which is give her an after-school job."

Hopeful romantics ought to make it a point to set their VCRs as well. Although Prince isn't quite ready to pair up Roxanne with a steady beau the way he has Meg and bespectacled dreamboat Luke (Jamie Elman), when Cupid finally gets the lovelorn adolescent in his crosshairs, he's sure to hit a bull's eye. "You hope for Roxanne to have somebody great," Prince suggests. "She deserves a really cool guy." And how. In the meantime, expect the male population of Philadelphia to turn Rox's head with such regularity that she's sure to get dizzy.

The casting announcements were made at NBC's presentation to reporters at the annual Television Critics Association press tour.

"American Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson leads the way for the "Dreams" cameos, playing Brenda Lee and singing "Sweet Sensations." Monica will play Motown star Mary Wells, covering "My Guy." Multi-Grammy winner Alicia Keys will sing "Rescue Me" when she appears as Fontella Bass and Hilary and Haylie Duff will drop in as the Shangri-Las, performing a hit to be named later.

American Dreams has made a dramatic impact by combining the past musical scene with the present, says NBC Entertainment President Jeff Zucker. We are thrilled with the mutually beneficial relationship that allows us to showcase musical stars such as Kelly Clarkson who relate to a contemporary audience.

Tiffani Thiessen will guest star on three of the first four episodes of "Good Morning, Miami" this season. The former "Saved by the Bell" starlet and "Beverly Hills, 90210" bad girl will play a corporate manager whose harsh management style leads Mark Feuerstein's Jake to consider leaving Miami for a job in New York.

Joseph Lawrence's part on The WB's new comedy "Run of the House" will mark the end of the actor's run on NBC's nostalgic sophomore drama "American Dreams." While rarely a main part of the drama, Lawrence, who played Michael Brooks, an associate producer at "American Bandstand," was one of the show's most recognizable faces at the beginning of its run.

Lawrence has a much more central part in "House," which focuses on a trio of siblings forced to raise their younger sister when their parents leave them alone for the winter. The former "Blossom" star plays Kurt, the eldest and most responsible brother who believes he's now in charge.

"It was a great opportunity for me, but honestly the plan was always to probably just do one year there and then look for something else," Lawrence says.

Speaking to reporters at the TV Critics Association press tour, Lawrence explains that his "American Dreams" character will exit after only two episode.

"The character is going to take a job offer out in Los Angeles to be an executive at a record label," he reveals. "And you know, 'Bandstand' moves to Los Angeles in 1965, so that's why he went out there. But it will be full-time Kurt from August on."

From his earliest days on "Gimme a Break!," Lawrence played a string of parts he sums up as "the zany kid with the catch phrase." As "Joey" Lawrence, he recorded hit albums and was something of a teen heartthrob, but following the run of "Brotherly Love" (which costarred real-life brother Matthew and Andrew), Lawrence took some time off and returned to the public eye with his full name and a desire to be accepted as a mature actor.

"You can call me whatever you want, but Joseph is what I want to see up there," he says. "It's as simple as that.

Early "Joseph Lawrence" productions like "Urban Legends: Final Cut" may not have progressed that goal, but his turn on the critically admired "Dreams" convinced many people that the 27-year-old actor is capable of playing authority figures.

"For me, the opportunity to play this kind of character who is sort of this surrogate father is sort of full circle for me in the half-hour world, and I just couldn't not do it," he says.

Because one of the show's major plotlines is built around the set of "American Bandstand," producers have weekly opportunities to let many of today's hottest stars indulge in hero worship. Earlier this season, Usher played Motown legend Marvin Gaye, Michelle Branch played "It's My Party" chanteuse Lesley Gore and Ashanti impersonated Dionne Warwick. Art Garfunkel has also had a recurring role, albeit in a dramatic capacity.

Duncan Sheik of "Barely Breathing" fame will show up in the Sunday, March 30 episode playing crooner Bobby Darin. Sheik, whose most recent highly regard album, "Daylight" was released last year, will sing the Darin hit "Somewhere Beyond the Sea." In the same episode, LeAnn Rimes will sing "Where the Boys Are" in a cameo as Connie Francis.

On Sunday, April 6, Green will play Brenda Holloway. Green, whose first album, "A Love Story," was named one of the 10 best albums of 2002 by USA Today, will sing Holloway's classic "Every Little Bit Hurts."

B2K will play The Temptations in an April episode. The "Bump, Bump, Bump" band will perform "My Girl" on the recreated "Bandstand" stage. Teeniebopper favorites B2K have been nominated for two MTV Video Music Awards, two American Music Awards and won BET's coveted Viewer's Choice award.

"We couldn't be luckier to find so many talented contemporary artists who choose to pay homage to their heroes on our show," says Jonathan Prince, "American Dreams" creator and executive producer.

"American Dreams" airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

Despite poor ratings for the first part of its "Salem Witch Trials" miniseries, CBS won the first Sunday night in March thanks to a combination of an old standard and a new sitcom smash.

For the night, CBS won a close victory with a 7.6 rating/12 share, nipping NBC's 7.4/12. ABC and FOX finished in a tie for third with 5.8/9. In metered markets, The WB averaged a 3.2/5.

FOX captured the 18-49 demographic with a 4.6 rating, followed by NBC's 4.0. ABC was third at 3.7 and despite the overall win for the night, CBS with last with 3.1.

At 7 p.m., CBS's newsmagazine "60 Minutes" scored the night's biggest rating with a 11.0/19. NBC's "Dateline" was second for the hour with a 5.2/9. With a 4.5/8, ABC's "I'm a Celebrity -- Get Me Out of Here!" tied with FOX's animated duo of "Futurama," 4.1/7, and "King of the Hill," 4.9/8. A repeat of "The Gilmore Girls" earned a 2.9/5 on The WB.

CBS took 8 p.m. as well thanks to the strong "premiere" of "My Big Fat Greek Life." After a strong debut after "Everybody Loves Raymond" on Monday night, the Nia Vardalos sitcom showed legs with a 10.6/16, boosting ratings for "Becker," 8.6/13, as well. FOX finished second with two episodes of "The Simpsons." The new episode, with guest voice Helen Fielding, scored a 7.7/12, while a repeat landed a 7.4/11. With a 6.3/10, NBC's "American Dreams" was third, followed by ABC's "I'm a Celebrity!." A repeat of a two-hour "Charmed" brought The WB a 3.6/5.

NBC took over at 9 p.m. with "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" taking the hour with a 10.8/16. A new "Alias" on ABC was second at 6.1/9 followed by "Malcolm in the Middle" and a repeat of "That '70s Show" on FOX. CBS trailed for the hour with the miniseries "Salem Witch Trials" which brought in a 5.1/8. The second hour of "Charmed" had a 3.4/5 on The WB.

ABC's "Dragnet," 7.5/13, was able to hold off the return of "Boomtown" to NBC at 10 p.m., while "Salem Witch Trials" lost viewers on CBS and finished third.