Farrah Nets Winning Number for NBC

NEW YORK: Early numbers indicate the project that began as Farrah Fawcett's home video diary drew a substantial audience for NBC last Friday night. More than 8.9 million people tuned in. The telecast pulled in the best non-Olympics number the Peacock has had in the 9-11 p.m. time slot for more than a year, Reuters said. An episode of Dateline the week before pulled in 5.3 million people.

"Farrah's Story" took the 9-10 p.m. time slot, and placed second behind CBS's broadcast of the crime drama, "Numb3rs," which brought in 9.6 million folks, during the second hour. The program won the night among adults 18-to-49, with a 2.4 rating and an 8 share. "Numb3rs" logged a 2.1/7 share in 18-to-49s.

The story of Fawcett's three-year battle with anal cancer had been hyped and teased on syndie entertainment shows and morning news all week. Excerpts of her partner Ryan O'Neal in the early stages of grief appeared across networks. The program itself is now posted at Hulu.com. -- Deborah D. McAdams