8pm: ABC can give huge thanks to cartoons for its primetime success. The half-hour animated holiday specials Shrek the Halls (21.06 million viewers, 7.2 rating/20 share) and How the Grinch Stole Christmas (18.74m, 6.8/17) were the two most-watched shows of the night.

NBC’s special Christmas in Rockefeller Center (8.98m, 2.0/6) was a very, very distant second in total viewers from 8pm to 9pm. Kid Nation (7.29m, 2.1/6) on CBS came in a close third, followed by a double episode of ‘Til Death (5.99m, 2.3/6) on Fox and America’s Next Top Model (5.03m, 2.4/7) on The CW.

9pm: Surprise, surprise (not). CBS leapt to the front of the line at 9pm with Criminal Minds (16.26m, 4.5/11), the third biggest draw of the night overall. ABC and Pushing Daisies (10.18m, 3.8/9) pulled in second, ahead of Fox’s Kitchen Nightmares (7.03m, 3.3/8) at third, NBC’s disappearing Bionic Woman (5.99m, 2.2/5) at fourth, and The CW’s Gossip Girl (2.98m, 1.4/4) last.

10pm: CSI: NY (14.03m, 4.1/11) had an easy time of it in the final hour, while ABC’s Dirty Sexy Money (7.15m, 2.6/7) and NBC’s Life (6.27m, 2.2/6) were a customary second and third, respectively.

Overall: CBS (12.53m, 3.5/9) took top honors in total viewers, but ABC (12.41m, 4.5/11) did the same for the 18–49 demographic. NBC (7.08m, 2.1/5) and Fox (6.51m, 2.8/7) had a similar split, with NBC leading Fox in total viewers and Fox besting NBC among 18–49-year-olds. Meanwhile, The CW (4.01m, 1.9/5) was all by its lonesome at last on both measures.

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DATA EXPLANATION: In the households figure 6.4/11, 6.4 is the household RATING that indicates what average percentage of U.S. households tuned into a particular show (6.4%), while 11 is the household SHARE that refers to what average percentage of televisions in use were tuned into a particular show (11%).

Tags: November Sweeps, ratings, television, tv

In case you don’t remember or know, Hough is now two for two. She was also named dancing queen last season, along with her Olympic medal-winning, speedskating partner Apolo Ohno. As a result of America’s dance-mania, ABC won the penultimate night of November Sweeps soundly and roundly.

8pm: The top performers in the first hour were CBS’ military crime drama NCIS (17.06 million viewers, 3.3 rating/9 share), which had the most total viewers, and a presentation of the classic Peanuts cartoon A Charlie Brown Christmas (13.57m, 4.6/12), which placed first among viewers aged 18 to 49. A new episode of Bones (9.62m, 3.4/9) on Fox was third on both measures, followed by the first hour of NBC’s The Biggest Loser (6.93m, 2.8/9) at fourth and Beauty and the Geek (2.52m, 1.3/3) on The CW at fifth.

9pm: From 9pm onward, the night belonged to ABC and the fifth-season finale of Dancing with the Stars (24.93m, 6.3/15); the reality show averaged 24.34 million viewers and a 6.0/14 from 9pm to 10pm. Hugh Laurie and House (16.86m, 7.0/16) did their usual thing with the viewers advertisers cater to the most, however, which is why Fox handily beat the dancing juggernaut in the 18–49 demographic. CBS’ The Unit (10.48m, 2.9/7) was a predictable third and the second hour of NBC’s The Biggest Loser (7.57m, 3.5/8) an improved fourth. Meanwhile, a new episode of the CW rookie Reaper (2.26m, 1.1/2) was left way out in the cold at a very distant fifth.

10pm: Dancing (25.52m, 6.8/17) continued its dominance in the final hour of primetime, although NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (12.29m, 4.6/12) put in a good effort for just under half the total viewers and second place. Meanwhile, the freshman CBS drama Cane (6.46m, 1.6/4) languished in last place.

Overall: ABC (21.14m, 5.8/14) trumped the competition, coming in far ahead of next runner-up Fox (13.24m, 5.2/13). CBS (11.33m, 2.6/6) pulled in more viewers overall than NBC, but NBC (8.93m, 3.6/9) did better than CBS among 18–49-year-olds. And, as is common, The CW (2.39m, 1.1/3) trailed behind the other four networks by a huge margin.

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DATA EXPLANATION: In the households figure 6.4/11, 6.4 is the household RATING that indicates what average percentage of U.S. households tuned into a particular show (6.4%), while 11 is the household SHARE that refers to what average percentage of televisions in use were tuned into a particular show (11%).

Tags: November Sweeps, ratings, television, tv

Other Day 28 Events

• ABC
  • SHREK THE HALLS—Film stars Antonio Banderas, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, and Mike Myers all reprise their movie voiceover roles for this very special animated holiday special. According to the network, you can catch a repeat of the half-hour presentation on Tuesday, December 11, at 8pm EST, too. [8pm EST]
  • DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS: 40TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION—Yes! More classic cartoon-y holiday cheer is here. [8:30pm EST]
  • PUSHING DAISIES—Uh-oh. Saturday Night Live alumna Molly Shannon is in the house as Dilly Balsam, and she’s out to shut down The Pie Hole. Also, note the hour later start. [9pm EST}
  • DIRTY SEXY MONEY—After all this time, we finally get to meet Nick's dearly departed daddy Dutch, and he's played by veteran actor Peter Strauss. [10:02pm EST]
• Fox
  • ‘TIL DEATH—Fox presents a double dose of the funny Starks and Woodcocks, although that means no Back to You this week, as well. [8pm EST]
• NBC
  • CHRISTMAS IN ROCKEFELLER CENTER—It’s time to officially get your Yuletide spirit pumping with this annual special featuring the lighting of the most well-known Christmas tree ever. [8pm EST]
• PBS
  • GREAT PERFORMANCES: ERIC CLAPTON CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL—Musical guests at the Chicago charity concert include B.B. King, Sheryl Crow, and John Mayer. [8pm EST/Check your local listings]

Tags: November Sweeps television, tv

8pm: The opening hour of primetime went to ABC and Dancing with the Stars (24.74m, 6.2/15), Monday’s highest rated show of all as expected. In second place in total viewers was the NBC spy dramedy Chuck (8.36m, 3.3/8), possibly celebrating yesterday’s news that it’s been picked up for a full 22-episode season. Third place went to the CBS sitcoms How I Met Your Mother (8.06m, 3.3/8) and The Big Bang Theory (7.39m, 2.8/7), while a repeat of House (7.44m, 2.9/7) on Fox came in fourth and the comedy combo Everybody Hates Chris (2.28m, 0.9/2) and Aliens in America (1.89m, 0.7/2) on The CW fifth.

9pm: Sitcoms ruled in the next hour, at least on CBS. Its Two and a Half Men (15.3m, 5.0/11) and Rules of Engagement (11.62m, 3.8/9) outdid rivals Samantha Who? (12.62m, 4.1/9) and Notes from the Underbelly (8.25m, 2.9/7) on ABC. Meanwhile, the next-to-last episode of Heroes (11.86m, 5.2/12) this season came in a respectable second for the hour and second for the entire night in the 18–49 demographic. A repeat of Bones (6.53m, 2.1/5) on Fox was fourth, with The CW’s Girlfriends (2.28m, 1.0/2) and The Game (2.8m, 1.4/3) pulling up the rear.

10pm: CBS and CSI: Miami (15.46m, 4.6/12) stayed true to form and led the final hour of primetime. And, although NBC’s Journeyman (6.18m, 3.7/9) didn’t score huge numbers, it did at least beat ABC’s dull drama October Road (6.02m, 2.3/6).

Overall: While ABC (13.72m, 4.0/10) and CBS (12.22m, 4.0/10) tied for the 18–49 demographic, ABC was first in total viewers. Third-place NBC (8.8m, 3.7/9) had a substantial lead over fourth-place Fox (6.98m, 2.5/6), and The CW (2.31m, 1.0/2) was a typical fifth.

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DATA EXPLANATION: In the households figure 6.4/11, 6.4 is the household RATING that indicates what average percentage of U.S. households tuned into a particular show (6.4%), while 11 is the household SHARE that refers to what average percentage of televisions in use were tuned into a particular show (11%).

Tags: November Sweeps, ratings, television, tv

The final three standing on the Alphabet Network’s super popular dance competition are singer Melanie “Scary Spice” Brown, racecar driver Helio Castroneves, and entertainer Marie Osmond. Last night, each celebrity performed a freestyle routine, along with a Cha Cha (Melanie Brown and Maksim Chmerkovskiy), Jive (Helio Castroneves and Julianne Hough), and Samba (Marie Osmond and Jonathan Roberts).

Considering the high quality of all the contestants this time around, the ultimate winner could be either finalist and not many would complain. Tune in to the two-hour live results show on ABC at 9pm EST to find out for yourself who triumphs.

Other Day 27 Events

• ABC
  • A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS—ABC is spreading a little more animated holiday cheer with another seasonal Peanuts classic. [8pm EST]
• FX
  • NIP/TUCK—John Schneider (Smallville, The Dukes of Hazzard) stops by to play a—Ahhh! My eyes! My eyes!—porn mogul with the semi-dirty name Ram Peters. [10pm EST]
• Fox
  • BONES—Give us a kiss! Bones and Booth might finally give fans what they’ve been wanting for ages when the two partners in crime-fighting lock lips, if only momentarily and under mistletoe. [8pm EST]
  • HOUSE—It’s decision time! Doc Cuddy forces Doc House to stop playing around and choose his new team already. [9pm EST]
• NBC
  • LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT—The guest stars are slamming on tonight’s SVU, as is the plot, literally. (Have you seen the promos with Olivia and Elliot’s wife driving together? If so, you know exactly what I mean.) Steven Bauer (Traffic, Scarface) plays a murdered woman’s suspicious Internet Romeo, while Anastasia Griffith (Damages) and Mark Valley (Boston Legal, Keen Eddie) portray her equally questionable married employers. With temporary cast members like that, maybe I won’t figure out who did it in the first five minutes this time. [10pm EST]
• TLC
  • LONDON INK—Tattoo-loving Miami Ink gets a companion series based in England’s most famous city. Louis Molloy of David Beckham tat fame is the head skin artist. [8pm EST]

Tags: November Sweeps television, tv

7pm: Despite NBC’s strong football showing, the sport did even better on CBS at 7pm with the hour-long overrun from the last game of a late afternoon NFL doubleheader (21.59 million viewers, 6.5 rating/17 share). Those were the best ratings of the night on both counts.

The first hour of a two-part Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 100th episode also produced good number for ABC (10.38m, 3.4/9). NBC’s Football Night in America (7.22m, 2.5/7) came in third, with a double repeat of The Simpsons (5.42m, 2.4/6) at fourth, and The CW’s failing combination of CW Now (0.82m, 0.3/1) and Aliens in America (0.83m, 0.3/1) at fifth.

8pm: In the next hour, CBS remained in the top spot, thanks to venerable 60 Minutes (15.52m, 4.0/9). The last hour of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (14.95m, 5.0/11) stayed steady at second in total viewers, with the final half-hour of NBC’s Football Night in America (14.66m, 5.4/13) just behind it in over all audience, but just ahead among 18–49-year-olds.

Yet, at 8:30pm, NBC’s Sunday Night Football (19.08m, 7.5/17) immediately knocked CBS off its perch. Fourth place went to The Simpsons (9.03m, 4.1/10) and King of the Hill (8.55m, 3.9/9) on Fox, while The CW stayed last with a repeat of Life Is Wild (1.2m, 0.4/1).

9pm: Predictably, ABC and Desperate Housewives (18.54m, 6.9/15) became the ones to beat at 9pm, after football on NBC, of course. CBS’ The Amazing Race (12.17m, 3.6/8) pulled hard anyway for third, besting Fox’s cartoon combo of Family Guy (9.6m, 4.7/10) and American Dad (8.42m, 4.0/9) at fourth.

10pm: NBC and football could not be surpassed at 10pm either. Instead, ABC’s Brothers & Sisters (12.52m, 4.8/11) managed to lure just a smidgen more viewers overall than CBS’ Cold Case (12.28m, 3.1/7), although the family drama produced far better results in the 18–49 demographic.

11pm: CBS’ Shark did air around 10:55pm, but the start time was so late as a result of the early-evening football overrun that the ratings didn’t count for Sunday-night primetime Sweeps results.

Overall: NBC (16.78m, 6.5/15) led decisively. CBS (15.39m, 4.3/10) followed in total viewers, but trailed ABC (14.09m, 5.0/12) among viewers aged 18 to 49. The bottom two included Fox (7.74m, 3.6/8) at fourth and The CW (1.14m, 0.4/1) at fifth.

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DATA EXPLANATION: In the households figure 6.4/11, 6.4 is the household RATING that indicates what average percentage of U.S. households tuned into a particular show (6.4%), while 11 is the household SHARE that refers to what average percentage of televisions in use were tuned into a particular show (11%).

Tags: November Sweeps, ratings, television, tv

It’s no secret that as a result of the writers strike currently underway, tonight’s “Truth & Consequences” installment of Heroes will be the next-to-last episode this year. Creator and executive producer Tim Kring did have the foresight, however, to craft a conclusion of sorts for the current second volume called Generations (the first volume, Genesis, comprised the entire first season). Events will come to a head with next Monday’s “Powerless,” which will tie up some loose ends left hanging during the earlier episodes this fall, while leaving other ends be to provide cliffhangers for the third volume Exodus.

For now, we’ll find out more about Peter’s (Milo Ventimiglia) odd alliance with Adam Monroe (David Anders), the immortal enemy of his mother Angela (Cristine Rose) and her generation of heroes, as they set out to eradicate the deathly virus that will allegedly kill nearly all of the world’s population soon. This partnering will have startling consequences during next week’s volume finale when Peter finds himself on one side of the enemy line opposite his former friends. And, we can only imagine what will happen when Hiro (Masi Oka) confronts Monroe, his previous idol Takezo Kensei who came forward to the future and killed his father.

Don’t miss Heroes tonight on NBC at 9pm EST.

Other Day 26 Events

• ABC
  • DANCING WITH THE STARS—Catch the last round of Season Five competition before the final vote determines who’s announced winner on Tuesday: Melanie “Scary Spice” Brown, Helio Castroneves, or Marie Osmond. [8pm EST]
  • SAMANTHA WHO?—Thanks to an almost over Dancing, Sam’s got a new time slot (9pm instead of 9:32pm) and a new blind date, the last played by Invasion and Third Watch cutie Eddie Cibrian. [9pm EST]
  • NOTES FROM THE UNDERBELLY—This sitcom did nothing for me when I watched a couple of episodes its first time around, but fans should know the second season starts tonight. [9:30pm EST]
  • OCTOBER ROAD— And, I guess there are even some people who’d like to know that Mondays at 10pm is the regular time slot for this tedious drama. [10pm EST]
• CBS
  • HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER—Barney gets to turn on all of his charms for those long-legged gals in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, including Project Runway host Heidi Klum. [8pm EST]
  • TWO AND A HALF MEN—The end is here, Men fans. Tonight’s installment was the last episode produced before the writers strike began. Next week, it will be all repeats, all the time for the boys. [9pm EST]
• NBC
  • CHUCK—Bryce Larkin, the title character’s old college roommate turned nemesis and super CIA spy, is back, but is he alive or Memorex? Fortunately for us, on this show, the answer could go either way. [8pm EST]
• Sundance
  • NIMROD NATION—This eight-part, four-week documentary series is all about high-school basketball, particularly a team dubbed the Nimrods, and the local folk who love them to death. [9pm EST]

Tags: November Sweeps television, tv

8pm: ABC’s Saturday Night Football led every hour of primetime on Saturday, achieving an average 10.14 million viewers and a 3.3 rating/10 share among those aged 18 to 49. At 8pm, Fox’s hit reality crime series Cops (6.76m, 2.3/7) placed second on both measures, while a repeat of NBC’s Thursday-night broadcast of the animated feature film The Incredibles (5.58m, 2.0/6) was third. Another repeat on CBS, CSI: Miami (5.01m, 1.3/4), came in last.

9pm: Fox maintained its second-place status during the next hour with Americas Most Wanted (6.59m, 2.2/6). Meanwhile, CBS’ second repeat of the night, CSI: NY (5.87m, 1.4/4), increased the network’s numbers a tad.

10pm: In the final hour of primetime, CBS moved to second place with the newsmagazine 48 Hours Mystery (7.09m, 1.7/5), and the 10:30pm broadcast of a 30 Rock repeat (3.36m, 1.2/4) kept NBC at third.

Overall: ABC and football made first place a no-brainer (10.14m, 3.3/10), while Fox’s two hours of reality came in second (6.67m, 2.2/7). On the bottom half, CBS (5.99m) bested NBC (5.21m) in terms of total viewers, but NBC (2.2/7) did the same to CBS (1.4/4) among 18–49-year-olds.

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DATA EXPLANATION: In the households figure 6.4/11, 6.4 is the household RATING that indicates what average percentage of U.S. households tuned into a particular show (6.4%), while 11 is the household SHARE that refers to what average percentage of televisions in use were tuned into a particular show (11%).

Tags: November Sweeps, ratings, television, tv

8pm: CBS got to business right away with Ghost Whisperer (9.98 million viewers, 2.7 rating/8 share among viewers aged 18 to 49). NBC’s Family Man (6.42m, 1.8/5) came in second, trumping third-place Men in Trees (5.57m, 1.5/5) on ABC, fourth-place Friday Night SmackDown! (4.96m, 1.6/5) on The CW, and a way last Next Great American Band (2.61m, 1.1/3) on Fox.

9pm: ABC took the lead in total viewers at 9pm, with the crime procedural Women’s Murder Club drawing a crowd of 7.76 million (1.6/5). The highest achiever in the 18–49 demographic, however, was the middle portion of NBC’s The Family Man (7.21m, 2.4/7), which bested even CBS’ fan favorite Moonlight (7.33m, 2.2/6) and delivered a close third in overall viewers. At fourth was the final hour of SmackDown! (5.2m, 1.7/5), followed by a new installment of Don’t Forget the Lyrics (4.27m, 1.5/4) on Fox.

10pm: The night’s highest-rated show in total viewers was CBS’ reliable Numb3rs (10.07m, 2.6/8). It tied the hour’s second best overall performer, NBC’s The Family Man (7.56m, 2.6/8), in the 18–49 demographic, and both shows were second for the night on that measure, just behind the leader Ghost Whisperer (2.7/8). ABC’s 20/20 (6.43m, 1.8/5) placed third between 10pm and 11pm.

Overall: CBS (9.13m, 2.5/7) managed a complete win, while NBC (7.06m, 2.2/7) produced a respectable second-place finish. ABC (6.43m, 1.6/5) took third in total viewers, but tied The CW (5.08m, 1.6/5) among 18–49-year-olds. Fox (3.44m, 1.3/4) was last on both measures.

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DATA EXPLANATION: In the households figure 6.4/11, 6.4 is the household RATING that indicates what average percentage of U.S. households tuned into a particular show (6.4%), while 11 is the household SHARE that refers to what average percentage of televisions in use were tuned into a particular show (11%).

Tags: November Sweeps, ratings, television, tv

Under the guidance of ace carpenter and project leader Pennington, the Extreme Makeover team will travel to Minnetonka, Minnesota, in order to help expand the Swenson-Lee’s former home in time for its tenth addition when matriarch Vicki gives birth to her fourth child. The remaining four children are the offspring of Vicki’s sister Teri, who was killed by an estranged ex-boyfriend in September 2006, despite a restraining order.

Episodes like the two-part “Swenson-Lee Family” are the type of heartwarming television tailor-made for the holiday season. If you’re in the mood for some early good spirits, catch the premiere at 7pm EST on ABC.

Other Day 25 Events

• ABC
  • DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES—The one and only Richard Chamberlain (The Thorn Birds) guests as Lynette Scavo’s mysterious stepdaddy. Honestly—does anyone who happens onto Wisteria Lane not have a secret hiding somewhere? [9pm EST]
  • BROTHERS & SISTERS—Chevy Chase, Steven Weber, and Lyle Lovett all guest star, although Lovett only plays himself. [10pm EST]
• ABC Family
  • CHRISTMAS CAPER —In this original holiday movie, Charmed and Beverly Hills, 90210 alum Shannen Doherty portrays a crafty thief who plots to ruin an entire community’s yuletide celebrations. Grinch! [8pm EST]
• Fox
  • THE SIMPSONS—The 18th-season finale was just last weekend, and now cartoonland’s most famous family is already back to begin a nineteenth. Guest voices are provided by Kelsey Grammer, John Mahoney, Keith Olbermann, and David Hyde Pierce. [8pm EST]

Tags: November Sweeps television, tv