What does one do when their show pony decides to retire after 9 seasons? In NBC's case, they pinched every ounce of opportunity to send Seinfeld out with a bang. During this swan song, NBC attempted to juxtapose two mediocre sitcoms next door, only to wind up with neighbors as irritating as Newman. Despite bad sitcom neighbors, most Thursday shows landed in the top 10. Tuesdays anchored strong around ever-sophisticated Frasier, and Dateline quintuplet shows plastered timeslots with low marketability.

Elsewhere, a fragile ABC caned the 3rd place position for a 2nd year as its mid-decade hits aged or faltered. CBS again registered 3rd despite vigorous efforts to reinvent the tired network. FOX suffered as its sitcoms and soaps imploded, and WB hit its stride with young-adult-skewing dramas. UPN tailed as it had yet to distinguish itself.