Ally McBeal, featuring freshly arrested actor Robert Downey Jr., surged to some of its best ratings in eight months, Daily Variety reported Wednesday.
Viewers tuned in despite, or more likely because of, the thespian's recent drug arrest. Downey, 35, was released on bail Sunday following the arrest and probation violation.
The Fox television series, down sharply compared with last year's ratings, won its hour in adults aged 18-49 for the first time this season, and had the largest audience overall (14.03 million) since March, the trade journal said.
The Oscar-nominated Downey, playing a lawyer, had a recurring role on Ally McBeal as a love interest for lead Calista Flockhart.
He was scheduled for one or two more appearances on the hit show, but it's unclear how his new legal troubles will affect that.
The actor was detained at a Palm Springs hotel late Saturday. Police officers said they found Downey alone, with "suspected methamphetamine and cocaine" in his possession.
He is to be arraigned before a judge within the next 30 days.
Last year Downey, nominated for an Academy Award for his performance in the title role of the 1992 movie Chaplin, was sentenced to three years in jail after a series of drug arrests, but was released on appeal after serving a little more than a year in prison.
Since his release from prison, Downey has been residing in a Los Angeles area drug rehab facility.
He was also to have played the lead role in Mel Gibson's stage production of Hamlet later this year in New York. – AFP.
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