The original "C.S.I." had become television's top-rated drama by combining the current obsession with forensics with a sleek production design and glitzy special effects.

In fact, Ms. Kingston, who has only been on American television's top-rated drama for five months, seemed a bit puzzled but amused to find herself the center of attention.

It subsequently became the top-rated American daytime drama and won several Daytime Emmy Awards.

The first "Operación Triunfo" variety show was watched by only 2.7 million viewers, about a third of the number that a top-rated drama would draw.

Even if you have been making a top-rated drama for seven years, you still spend a lot of time on your own.

From July through January, it was the top-rated original drama on basic cable, drawing about two million viewers an episode in its second season.

The top-rated drama "E.R." has lots of medical content in its emergency rooms but is really about the doctors, nurses and patients involved.

Soap opera ratings today are vastly diminished: though this 42-year-old series is still one of the top-rated daytime dramas, its average audience is now 3.5 million.

Even in repeats, "E.R." is almost always the top-rated drama on television.

Los Angeles's television producers have returned to New York for the setting of 6 of the country's top-rated dramas and situation comedies.