'White Collar,' 'Stargate' drop; 'SpongeBob' tops Leno

-- After debuting strong a few weeks back, USA's new drama "White Collar" (3.8 million viewers, 0.9 adult demo rating) has dropped with each episode, losing 36% of its audience since its premiere. Week 3 is usually a settling point for new shows, but this is lower than USA would hope the number to settle.

-- The CW's "Smallville" (2.6 million, 1.2) retained its season high this week after having it slip through its grasp the week before.

-- SyFy's "Stargate: Universe" (1.6 million, 0.7) fell to a new low amid a producer sparring with critic Maureen Ryan. I don't get the fuss. Never watched the previous "Stargate" entries, loved "Battlestar Galactica" and I'm enjoying this show just fine.

-- "SpongeBob" beat Leno in the adult demo noted one ratings observer. So they're not competitors, but readers continue to have a morbid interest in what's doing better than NBC's white knight this week. On the CW, Leno's 1.2 rating is a season high, on NBC it's a pinata.