ABC's 9 p.m. anchor "Desperate Housewives" still reigned as the most-watched program of the night with an average of 24.4 million viewers and 10.3 rating/22 share in the adults 18-49 demographic, according to preliminary estimates from Nielsen Media Research. NBC had the most daring program of the night in its hourlong live (in East Coast and Midwest markets) telecast of a debate between the two contenders, played by Alan Alda and Jimmy Smits, for the Burbank-based Oval Office on "The West Wing." In adults 18-49, "Category 7" delivered an eye-popping 108% improvement over CBS' track record in the time slot so far this season.

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