Ratings: America Remembers Farrah and Michael
Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett
Viewers were drawn to their televisions on Thursday night as multiple networks fast-tracked special programming paying tribute to Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson, both of whom passed away earlier in the day.
ABC's special 20/20 broadcast dedicated to Fawcett — and featuring an exclusive sit-down with the love of the actress' life, Ryan O'Neal — drew 8.23 million total viewers at 10 pm, making it the evening's second-most watched program (edged out only by a CSI repeat).
Also at 10, Dateline NBC's own remembrance of Fawcett drew 5.8 mil.
Of the Jackson tributes, CBS' 10 pm special delivered 7.6 mil, while ABC's and NBC's 9 o'clock profiles did 5.7 mil and 5.2 mil, respectively.
Elsewhere on Thursday, So You Think You Can Dance — which made note of all three tragic losses this week, Ed McMahon's included, and showed a "Thriller" clip - drew 6.9 mil.