Ron Galella/WireImage.com; FOXHomer Simpson and Donald Trump have something new in common.
The Simpsons and Celebrity Apprentice drew to a TV ratings duel, which was good news for The Simpsons.
And bad news for Celebrity Apprentice.
On Sunday night, The Simpsons' 500th episode and the season opener of Celebrity Apprentice scored the same solid demo rating among adults 18-49: a 2.6.
For The SImpsons, the number represented a big, week-to-week surge—proof that the comedy can bring it even at its advanced age.
For Celebrity Apprentice, the number represented the worst start yet for Trump's all-star edition.
On the upside, the show got bigger as its two-hour premiere wore on. It ended up averaging about 7.4 million viewers overall to The SImpsons' 5.8 million.
Trump then would be appear to be down, but not out.
Which means he's still popular enough to theoretically make the White House prophecies of "Bart to the Future" come true.
Elsewhere, the weekly broadcast and cable rankings have been delayed by the Presidents Day holiday.
But here's still a quick look at the latest ratings winners and losers:
• American Idol and The Voice: Obviously, they're both winners, but if you're wondering who's winning among the winners, the answer is they both are. Wednesday's Idol outrated last week's The Voice in the demo, which outrated Thursday's Idol in the demo.
• Smash: Week three showed more erosion, with the freshman show falling to about 6.5 million viewers and a middling 2.3 demo rating last night.
• The River: Its third episode dropped a 1.7 rating in the demo.
• Cougar Town: If the victory was earning a third season, however long-delayed, then the perennial bubble show has its victory—to go along with its unfortunate premiere-night 1.8 demo rating.
• Alacatraz: Now seven episodes old, it posted a 1.8 demo rating last night.
• Smash: On second thought, maybe that 2.3 demo rating is pretty good, after all…
• Once Upon a Time: Hey, a hit show that's not named American Idol or The Voice! This newbie, also now seven episodes old, scored a night-best 3.0 demo rating on Sunday.