CBS envisioned the new summer reality series “Fire Me Please” as the anti-“Apprentice.” It certainly is, but not in the way the network would have hoped.
   After a decent debut last week, the 9 p.m. show featuring two people competing to get fired instead of hired plummeted in its second outing last night, according to Nielsen overnights. It averaged a 2.8 adults 18-49 rating, down 15 percent from the 3.3 it averaged in its premiere.
   The show averaged 7.3 million total viewers, down 12 percent from last week’s 8.3 million.
   Contestants compete to see how quickly they can hear “You’re fired.” The import of a British show was envisioned as a clever play off of NBC’s hit “The Apprentice,” where Donald Trump eventually tells one lucky person they’re hired.
   While Trump’s show grew and grew in the ratings during its first season, “Fire Me” looks like it will spiral downward from here. The fizzle came on a night of mostly repeats, with the only other original programming on broadcast last night was ABC’s diluted NBA Finals and 10 p.m.’s “48 Hours” on CBS.
   "Fire Me" could fare even worse next week, when Game 6 of the NBA Finals will air, if necessary. Though the games haven't exactly been rating powerhouses, a Game 6 will definitely draw viewers, and that could send "Fire Me" down even more.
   In a summer when straightforward reality like "Dancing With the Stars" has been hot, "Fire" may be too complicated. Said Brian Lowry of Variety, "Any show where the rules take nearly an hour to explain is in for tough sledding."

   With Game 3 of the NBA finals, ABC led the night among 18-49s with a 3.4 average rating and a 10 share. CBS was second for the night at 2.7/8, Fox third at 2.5/8, NBC fourth at 2.1/6, the WB fifth at 1.0/3 and UPN sixth at 0.9/3.
   According to metered market ratings, Game 3 averaged an 8.7 household rating and 14 share. (Overnights measure only time period performance and not performance of live events.)
   At 8 p.m. in the overnights, ABC led with a 2.5 average for a repeat of “My Wife & Kids” (2.6) and the first half hour of its coverage of the NBA Finals (2.4). CBS was second with a 2.1 average for an “NCIS” rerun and Fox third with a 1.9 for a repeat of “Trading Spouses.”
   ABC led again at 9 p.m. with its coverage of the finals averaging a 3.5 rating. Fox was second during the hour with a 3.0 for a repeat of “House” and CBS third with its 2.8 average for “Fire Me.”
   ABC’s coverage of the finals grew again during the 10 p.m. hour, as the network led with a 4.3 average rating. CBS was second with a 3.1 for “48 Hours” and NBC third with a 2.6 for a repeat of “Law & Order: SVU.”
   Among households, ABC and CBS tied for the nightly lead, each coming away with a 5.8 average rating and a 10 share. Fox finished third at 4.5/8, NBC fourth at 3.7/6, the WB fifth at 1.6/3 and UPN sixth at 1.4/2.