FOX, which debuted the first new show of 2005-06 in "Prison Break" last week, managed to tie CBS for the lead among adults 18-49; both came in with 2.3 ratings. ABC and NBC (each 2.0) tied for third in the demographic advertisers pursue most ardently. UPN scored a 0.9 for fifth, edging The WB's 0.8.

Coverage of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath sent network news divisions into high gear last week, with four prime-time specials on the disaster ranking in the top 20. A "Dateline" special on Wednesday was the week's most-watched program, scoring an 8.2/13. A Friday "Dateline" was fourth at 7.3/13, while Wednesday specials on ABC and CBS tied for ninth and 14th. CBS' "60 Minutes," which was third at 7.7/16, also devoted part of its broadcast to the hurricane.

The top regularly scheduled show was CBS' "CSI: Miami," which came in second overall with a 7.9/13. Usual leader "CSI" slipped to 11th place, scoring only a 6.3/10, according to Nielsen. The premiere of "Prison Break" on FOX was seventh overall with a 6.8/11, placing just behind two episodes of CBS' "Two and a Half Men." "Prison Break" was also the week's top-rated show among adults 18-49.

In addition to its news coverage of Hurricane Katrina, NBC also got solid showings from "Law & Order" (6.6/11, eighth), "Law & Order: SVU" (5.7/9, tied for 14th) and the NASCAR California 500 on Saturday, which finished just outside the top 20 with a 5.2/10. The network's "Concert for Hurricane Relief" special on Friday night aired commercial-free and therefore wasn't included in the weekly rankings.

Other than its hurricane news special and a preseason football game Monday, which finished 13th at 5.8/9, ABC had little to write home about for the week. UPN, per usual, was led by "WWE Smackdown!," which scored a 2.7/4 in its final Thursday broadcast (it's switching to Fridays this week). A "Gilmore Girls" rerun topped The WB's slate with a 1.9/3.