RATINGS RECAP: 12/12/10

ABC
7:00 America's Funniest Home Videos 
Viewers: 8.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2
8:00 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Viewers: 8.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4
9:00 Desperate Housewives
Viewers: 11.6 million, 18-49 demo: 3.6
10:00 Brothers & Sisters
Viewers: 8.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5

CBS
7:00 NFL Overrun
Viewers: 30.2 million, 18-49 demo: 10.4
7:26 60 Minutes
Viewers: 17.6 million, 18-49 demo: 3.9
8:26 The Amazing Race
Viewers: 12.1 million, 18-49 demo: 3.7
9:26 Undercover Boss
Viewers: 11.1 million, 18-49 demo: 3.1
10:26 CSI: Miami
Viewers: 9.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.3

NBC
7:00 Football Night in America
Viewers: 7.6 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8
7:54 Football Night in America Part 2
Viewers: 11.9 million, 18-49 demo: 4.2
8:21 NFL Pregame
Viewers: 17.7 million, 18-49 demo: 6.1
8:31 Sunday Night Football
Viewers: 25.7 million, 18-49 demo: 9.5

FOX
7:00 Running Wilde (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0
7:30 The Simpsons (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
8:00 The Simpsons
Viewers: 7.2 million, 18-49 demo: 3.2
8:30 Family Guy
Viewers: 8.0 million, 18-49 demo: 3.9
9:30 American Dad!
Viewers: 6.2 million, 18-49 demo: 3.1

ABC had a solid Sunday night. America's Funniest Home Videos kicked things off and was up a nice 1.3 million viewers and three tenths in the demo, hitting season highs in both categories. This show could benefit more when football is over. At 8pm, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was up half a million viewers and two tenths in the demo, but it failed to build on Videos in viewers for the first time. Desperate Housewives followed and was up two tenths in viewers and even in the demo as this seems to be its normal numbers for this season. Finally, Brothers & Sisters rebounded a bit from last week's lows as it was up 1.2 million viewers and four tenths in the demo, which is probably a relief to ABC.

CBS had a very powerful NFL overrun which helped the early part of the night as usual. 60 Minutes was up a huge 5.5 million viewers and two full demo points as it continues to be night and day for this show depending on football. The demo is a season high. The fall edition finale of The Amazing Race was up a strong 1.8 million viewers and six tenths in the demo. The viewer total is a season high and the show will return with an all-star edition on February 20. Undercover Boss was up six tenths in viewers and four tenths in the demo while CSI: Miami was down eight tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo, though it did start almost half and hour later.

NBC had a huge night with a close Eagles-Cowboys game. Despite the Cowboys being out of the playoff race, the game was up a strong 3.5 million viewers and 1.2 demo points. It also ties Vikings-Packers for the most watched Sunday night game in a lucrative fall NFL season. Football Night in America was also up from normal levels.

FOX had its animated lineup including a one hour episode of Family Guy. At 8pm, The Simpsons did not have an NFL lead-in and was down a sharp 2.3 million viewers and a full demo point. Just like 60 Minutes, this veteran show fluctuates dramatically depending on if it has an NFL lead-in. At 8:30, a one hour Christmas episode of Family Guy was up a nice 1.4 million viewers and six tenths in the demo from its last new airing three weeks ago. These are great numbers against some tough competition. Finally, American Dad! was up almost a million viewers and six tenths in the demo from last week, hitting a season high in the demo. Perhaps the better lead-in made a difference?