The season finale of CBS's "The Amazing Race" slid 21 percent from last year's send-off to tie the show's previous low for a finale, while NBC took an expected win on the strength of "Sunday Night Football," according to preliminary numbers.
While NBC's numbers are approximate due to the nature of live sports, the network holds a commanding first place in the 18-49 demographic most important to advertisers with a 5.7 rating/14 share and in total viewers with 15.9 million total viewers. Following three consecutive episodes of "Football Night in America" from 7 to 8:30 p.m., which drew a 2.3/6, 3.3/9 and 5.4/13, the game between Green Bay and Detroit inched up from last week's "Sunday Night Football" at 8:30, posting a 6.9/17 and 18.9 million total viewers. It was by far the night's best-rated and program and most-watched overall.
Fox drew second place in ratings and third in total viewers with a 3.5/9 and 8.5 million. NFL overrun from 7 to 7:30 had a 6.1/17 with 17.3 million total viewers, while overrun combined with "The O.T" at 7:30 had a 4.3/11 with 11.6 million total viewers. "The Simpsons at 8 inched up from its last original airing two weeks ago for a 3.4/9 and had 7.5 million total viewers. "Bob's Burgers" at 8:30 jumped 17 percent to a 2.1/5 and took 4.6 million total viewers, while "Family Guy" at 9 had a 2.8/7 with 5.6 million total viewers. "American Dad" at 9:30 drew a 2.2/5 with 4.7 million total viewers.
CBS came in third in ratings and second in total viewers with a 2.2/5 and 9.6 million. "60 Minutes" at 7 posted a 19/5 with 11.8 million total viewers, while the "Amazing Race" season finale the following hour dropped to a 2.6/6 with 9.3 million total viewers. "The Mentalist" at 10 dropped 11 percent from its last original two weeks ago for a 1.6/4 and had 7.9 million total viewers.
ABC came in fourth in ratings and total viewers with a 1.6/4 and 6.8 million. "America's Funniest Home Videos" at 7 slid 13 percent for a 1.4/4 with 6.5 million total viewers. The special "Disney's Prep & Landing" the following hour had a 1.4/3, a 27 percent increase over last year's special, and had 4.9 million total viewers. "Disney's Prep & Landing 2: Naughty vs. Nice" at 8:30 also drew a 1.4/3 and took 4.8 million total viewers, while the movie "Christmas With Holly" at 9 took a 1.8/4 with 7.7 million total viewers.
