Result:

Useful if you have a huge resolution and having trouble making out which line the “failed” belongs to :-)

--- /etc/rc.status      2010-05-19 16:05:42.561038358 +0200
+++ /etc/rc.status      2010-05-19 10:09:18.287053928 +0200
@@ -70,14 +70,15 @@
         attn="${esc}[1;33m"
         norm=`echo -en "${esc}[m\017"`
         stat=`echo -en "\015${esc}[${COLUMNS}C${esc}[10D"`
+        stat=`echo -en "\015${esc}[G${esc}[14@${esc}[10C...${esc}[11D"`
 
-     rc_done="${stat}${done}done${norm}"
+     rc_done="${stat}   ${done}done${norm}"
   rc_running="${stat}${done}running${norm}"
-   rc_failed="${stat}${warn}failed${norm}"
+   rc_failed="${stat} ${warn}failed${norm}"
    rc_missed="${stat}${warn}missing${norm}"
   rc_skipped="${stat}${attn}skipped${norm}"
-     rc_dead="${stat}${warn}dead${norm}"
-   rc_unused="${stat}${extd}unused${norm}"
+     rc_dead="${stat}   ${warn}dead${norm}"
+   rc_unused="${stat} ${extd}unused${norm}"
   rc_unknown="${stat}${attn}unknown${norm}"
   rc_done_up="${esc}[1A${rc_done}"
 rc_failed_up="${esc}[1A${rc_failed}"

More refinement with xtty=$(stty -g); stty -echo; echo -en "\033[6n"; read -d R curpos; stty $xtty, then see if cursor is at beginning of line and go up one line.