No surprise here: The broadcast network’s ratings have arrived for the week ending Feb. 7, and Sunday’s Super Bowl XLIV—which knocked off the finale of M*A*S*H to become the most-watched television program of all time—is the big winner for the seven-day period. The big game, which saw the New Orleans Saints triumph over the Indianapolis Colts, officially drew 106.5 million viewers.
The show CBS launched in the post-Super Bowl slot, Undercover Boss, came in at No. 2 with a super-healthy 38.7 million viewers—the largest-ever audience for a new series after the Super Bowl. (It ranks third for all-time series, behind Friends in 1996 and Survivor in 2001.) Boss‘ numbers were also good enough to make the most-watched reality series premiere ever and the biggest new series launch on TV since 1987. Fox’s American Idol, which usually sits atop the chart, came in at No. 3 and No. 4, with 24.7 million and 21.0 million viewers for its Tuesday and Wednesday airings, respectively. In fifth place was TV’s top scripted show, CBS’ NCIS, which drew 19.2 million viewers.
The week’s full top 20 shows—complete with viewership numbers—can be found after the jump.
1. Super Bowl XLIV | CBS | 106.5 million
2. Undercover Boss | CBS | 38.7 million
3. American Idol Tuesday | Fox | 24.7 million
4. American Idol Wednesday | Fox | 21.0 million
5. NCIS | CBS | 19.2 million
6. Two and a Half Men | CBS | 16.5 million
7. NCIS: Los Angeles | CBS | 16.4 million
8. The Big Bang Theory | CBS | 15.5 million
9. Criminal Minds | CBS | 14.7 million
10. The Mentalist | CBS | 14.7 million
11. CSI | CBS | 14.5 million
12. CSI: NY | CBS | 14.2 million
13. CSI: Miami | CBS | 13.4 million
14. House | Fox | 13.4 million
15. The Good Wife | CBS | 12.8 million
16. Grey’s Anatomy | ABC | 12.5 million
17. Bones | Fox | 12.4 million
18. Lost | ABC | 12.1 million
19. The Bachelor | ABC | 11.7 million
20. Super Bowl’s Greatest Commercials | CBS | 11.0 million
Source: Nielsen
Wow, NBC is in the crapper these days.
What else is new?