Thursday, April 24, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
THE NIELSEN ratings are in.
Once again, "ER" is the nation's top show, commanding a 21 share -- meaning it's seen more often than Elvis.
The most popular episode of "ER" this season focused on how a team of emergency-room doctors revived a cameraman after he made an remark about Dennis Rodman's taste in bridal wear during an NBA playoff game.
The second most popular episode depicted the heroic efforts of the "ER" team in saving the lives of several Kmart executives who suffered massive coronary occlusions upon hearing the latest Champions Dinner menu suggestions by Fuzzy Zoeller, Kmart's former golf spokesman.
"Seinfeld" is the second most popular show this year -- seen in 22 million homes.
Obviously, most Americans relate well to the sitcom's lovable cast members, who each own about 20 foreign cars and think they deserve $1 million per episode.
"Touched by an Angel" also scored big. This season's eighth most-watched program featured an episode about a Kmart security guard who hits Megabucks for $20 million and decides to keep on working "just like those 'Seinfeld' cast members."
"Suddenly Susan" also did very well this year. The show, starring Brooke Shields, was the sixth most-watched television program.
The audience's favorite episode chronicled how Susan comes home from work and discovers she's suddenly married to a short, balding, washed-up tennis pro who suddenly is offered a sponsorship deal with Kmart.
"NBC Monday Night Movies: Nightscream," which chronicles Bob's weekly hell sessions in the no-limit Texas hold 'em poker tournaments at the Orleans hotel-casino, scored a respectable 11 share.
"Diagnosis Murder," which depicts how Bob plans to kill the next player who effortlessly draws a gut-shot straight to beat Bob's three kings, also did fairly well.
No. 13 was lucky for ABC this season, because that's the ranking of its hit series "Soul Man," which portrays Fuzzy Zoeller as a rhythm-and-blues guitarist trying to make it in Sandpoint, Idaho, after he "retires" from the professional golf tour.
"Simpsons," Fox's Gothic horror series that portrays a group of Sandpoint residents who experience the same nightmare every night, also did well in the Nielsens ratings.
"Unsolved Mysteries," focusing on the successful careers of actor Tom Arnold and actress Demi Moore, also commanded a nice share.
"Men Behaving Badly," a docudrama about a group of salesmen who, after experiencing one too many lap dances at the Olympic Garden Gentlemen's Cabaret, try to kidnap Sasha, the lead dancer, and take her back home to Dubuque, Iowa, also did well in the ratings game.
And finally, "Nanny," the CBS sitcom starring Dennis Rodman as a confused children's nursemaid, didn't do so well this year.
After Kmart threatened to pull its sponsorship of the program, CBS executives announced that Rodman would be replaced with singer Michael Jackson and the name of the show would be changed to "Boy Meets World of Michael and Doesn't Like It."
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