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TV ratings: 'Housewives' return strong but NBC wins Sunday
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Fast National ratings for Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010The return of "Desperate Housewives" to ABC delivered some of the show's best overnight ratings this season, but they weren't quite good enough to overtake NBC and "Sunday Night Football."
NBC scored 12.4 million viewers and a 7.5 rating/12 share in households for the night, topping ABC's 11.8 million and 7.0/11. CBS (10.5 million, 6.6/10) came in third, and FOX trailed with 9.1 million viewers and a 5.2/8.
The adults 18-49 title also went to NBC, which drew a 4.6 rating in the demographic. FOX took second at 3.8, just ahead of ABC's 3.7. CBS was off the pace at 2.2.
Sunday hour by hour:
7 p.m.
CBS: NFL overrun/"60 Minutes" (14.85 million viewers, 9.1/14 households)
FOX: NFL overrun/"The OT" (12.4 million, 7.2/11)
ABC: "America's Funniest Home Videos" (10.2 million, 5.5/9)
NBC: "Football Night in America" (7 million, 4.1/6)
18-49 leader: NFL/"The OT" (4.5)
8 p.m.
NBC: "Sunday Night Football" - Bengals-Jets (14.4 million, 8.5/13)
CBS: "60 Minutes"/"NCIS" rerun (11.4 million, 7.1/11)
ABC: "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (11 million, 6.1/9)
FOX: "The Simpsons" (8.65 million, 4.7/7)/"The Cleveland Show" (7 million, 3.8/6)
18-49 leader: "Sunday Night Football" (5.3)
9 p.m.
NBC: "Sunday Night Football" (16.1 million, 9.8/14)
ABC: "Desperate Housewives" (15.2 million, 9.2/14)
CBS: "NCIS" rerun/"Cold Case" rerun (8.6 million, 5.5/8)
FOX: "Family Guy" (8.1 million, 4.6/7)/"American Dad" (5.9 million, 3.5/5)
18-49 leader: "Sunday Night Football" (5.8)
10 p.m.
NBC: "Sunday Night Football" (12.2 million, 7.6/13)
ABC: "Brothers & Sisters" (10.9 million, 7.1/12)
CBS: "Cold Case" rerun (7.15 million, 4.8/8)
18-49 leader: "Sunday Night Football" (4.9)
Ratings information includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change, especially in the case of live telecasts. Source: The Nielsen Company.
More ratings at Zap2it: Daily, weekly and cable
Photo credit: ABC
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Desperate Housewives and Brothers and Sisters were fantastic last night, especially Felicity Huffman and Calista Flockhart. No other back-to-back shows are ever as great. The Housewives actually beat the NCIS rerun, I'm happy about that. Would ABC have done as well though if the football game was more competitive? I'd like to hope so.
NBC's "Sunday Night Football" is its best offering of the season next to "Law & Order."
I enjoy the games, the commentary and the post game remarks. The network has some of the best football analysts on its staff and uses them quite effectively.
It's the one thing NBC can do right!
Housewives should just be retired completely, lost interest 2 seasons ago.
anonymous u are a dumbo
How many more weeks of Sunday night football are left? Then we'll see who's on top. Goodbye to NBC's only watchable show.
Desperate Housewives was awful last night. It was a real disappointment. Very boring
i lost interest in hw's at least 4 seasons ago.
i did not tv at all sunday cause nbc did not have the best tv show ever on i only watch when the new #1 show is on. LENO LENO LENO
PLEASE nbc 24/7 leno
DH was a little over the top last nite, but I wouldn't miss the show for anything. Its my favorite show. But I may go the way of some of you, get tired and quit watching. Its happened to me with many favorites. But not right now.
Agree with Yvonne. Sunday Night FB is the best. And Football Night in America is the best sports show on tv bar none, with Patrick & Olbermann together again, with Costas.