On a night with the return of Jack Bauer and the premiere of Human Target, it was CBS’ NFL coverage that led the eye to victory.

CBS’ coverage of the Jets/Chargers game averaged a solid 11.3 (18-49) rating and 34.1 million viewers at 7, beating out NBC’s red carpet coverage of the Golden Globes, which pulled just a 2.4 (18-49) rating and 9.4 million viewers. America’s Funniest Home Videos was fourth wtih a 1.7 (18-49) rating, beating out a rerun of last seasons 24 finale, which drew just 3.7 million viewers and a 1.2 (18-49) rating.

NBC’s Golden Globes coverage then kicked in, dominating the rest of the night for the peacock, averaging a 4.7 (18-49) rating and just under 14 million viewers.

FOX had the series premiere of Human Target last night, pulling a 2.9 (18-49) rating and 10.1 million viewers – a solid start (and it grew over the hour). 24 then returned with a two-hour season premiere, pulling a 3.9 (18-49) rating and 11.4 million viewers – down over 10% from last seasons opener.

ABC went with reruns and then a brand new Desperate Housewives, which fell to just a 3.7 (18-49) rating and 11.2 million viewers – a season low. Brothers and Sisters was also well down, posting a 2.7 rating and 8.1 million viewers.

CBS went with 60 minutes at 8 (which had the NFL lead-in), posting a very solid 4.5 (18-49) rating and 16.5 million viewers. At 9, Cold Case was up vs. its season average, posting a 2.5 (18-49) rating and 10.7 million viewers.

Full Breakdown

7:00 – CBS - NY Jets v. San Diego – 11.3 (18-49) rating - 34.1 million viewers
NBC – 2010 Golden Globe Red Carpet – 2.4 - 9.4 million
ABC – America’s Funniest Home Videos – 1.7 - 7.3 million
FOX – 24 (R) – 1.2 - 3.7 million 

8:00 - NBC – 67th Golden Globe Awards (8-11pm) – 4.7 (18-49) rating – 14 million viewers
CBS – 60 Minutes - 4.5 – 16.5 million
FOX – Human Target (premiere) – 2.9 - 10.1 million
ABC – Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (repeat) – 1.8 – 6.4 million

9:00 – FOX – 24 (premiere) – 3.9 (18-49) rating - 11.5 million viewers
ABC – Desperate Housewives – 3.7 - 11.2 million
CBS – Cold Case - 2.5 - 10.7 million

10:00 - FOX – 24 (premiere) – 3.9 - 11.3 million
ABC – Brothers & Sisters – 2.7 – 8.1 million
CBS – NCIS (repeat) – 2.1 - 9.5 million

On a night where all networks other than ABC were strong, it was NBC’s Sunday Night Football that took the win.

NBC’s Sunday Night Football saw the Carolina Panthers in an unlikely victory over my Minnesota Vikings, which averaged a solid 5.6 (18-49) rating between 8.30 and 11pm to lead NBC to victory. A NFL overrun on FOX helped them to second place, averaging a 4.4 rating even though they were in repeats from 8-10pm.

The Survivor: Samoa finale posted solid numbers for CBS, averaging a 4.2 (18-49) rating between 8-11pm. At 7, 60 minutes posted a 2.4 rating and 13.1 million viewers.

ABC had a dismal night with America’s Funniest Home Videos (1.7), Movie: Santa Clause 3 (2.0) and Desperate Housewives (1.3)

Winners:
Sunday Night Football (NBC)
NFL Overrun (FOX)
Survivor: Samoa (CBS)
FOX animation reruns

Losers:
ABC reruns
60 Minutes (CBS)

Full Breakdown:  

7:00 – FOX – NFL overrun – 7.1 (18-49) rating - 19.6 million
CBS – 60 Minutes – 2.4 - 13.1 million
NBC – Football Night In America - 2.1 – 6.3 million
ABC – America’s Funniest Home Videos (repeat) – 1.7 - 6.9 million

8:00 - NBC – Football Night In America - 4.2 (18-49) rating – 12.5 million viewers
CBS – Survivor: Samoa (finale) - 4.2 - 14 million
FOX - The Simpsons (repeat) – 3.8 - 8.2 million
ABC – Santa Clause 3 (movie) – 1.8 – 6.7 million

8:30 – NBC – Sunday Night Football (8.30 – 11pm) - 5.6 (18-49) rating – 15.8 million viewers
FOX The Cleveland Show (repeat) 2.8 7 5.917

9:00 – CBS – Survivor: Samoa (finale) - 4.5 (18-49) rating – 14.3 million viewers
FOX – Family Guy (repeat) - 3.1 - 6.3 million
ABC – Santa Clause 3 (movie) – 2.1 - 7.3 million

9:30 – FOX – American Dad (repeat) – 2.5 - 5.1 million

10:00 – CBS – Survivor: Samoa (special) - 3.9 (18-49) rating – 13.3 million viewers
ABC - Desperate Housewives (repeat) – 1.3 - 4 million

In a fierce match-up that saw the Philadelphia Eagles overcome the New York Giants, it was NBC who were the biggest winners.

Sunday Night Football averaged a solid 7.0 (18-49) rating average between 8.30 and 11pm to give NBC the win over a CBS which was heavily influenced by an NFL overrun and solid 60 Minutes.

FOX’s animation lineup were all new last night but only Family Guy shone with a 3.8 (18-49) rating, still down over the last few new episodes. Brothers underperformed at 7pm, averaging just a 1.1 (18-49) rating which effectively led FOX to last place.

America’s Funniest Home Videos was poor for ABC at 7, averaging just a 2.2 (18-49) rating. Desperate Housewives was replaced by a solid ep of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition which averaged a 3.5 rating at 9pm. The Oprah White House Special which replaced Brothers & Sisters averaged a 2.9 rating, down from B&S’ season-to-date average.

Winners:
Sunday Night Football (NBC)
NFL Overrun (CBS)
Family Guy (FOX)
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC)

Losers:
Brothers (FOX)
Cold Case (CBS)
Oprah Special (ABC)
America’s Funnies Home Videos (ABC)

Full Breakdown:

7:00 – CBS – NFL overrun / 60 Minutes - 5.2 (18-49) rating – 18.5 million viewers
NBC – Football Night In America - 3.0 – 8.6 million
ABC – America’s Funniest Home Videos - 2.2 – 8.7 million
FOX – Brothers – 1.1 - 3.1 million

8:00 – NBC Football Night In America – 5.0 (18-49) rating - 14 million viewers
FOX – The Simpsons – 3.2 - 7.1 million
CBS – 60 Min./ The Mentalist (repeat) – 2.2 – 10.8 million
ABC Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 2.7 – 9.3 million

8:30 NBC – Sunday Night Football (8.30-11pm) - 7.0 (18-49) rating – 19 million viewers
FOX – The Cleveland Show – 3.0 - 6.5 million

9:00 – FOX – Family Guy – 3.8 (18-49) rating – 7.7 million viewers
ABC – Extreme Makeover: Home Edition – 3.5 - 11.2 million
CBS – Mentalist / Cold Case – 2.0 – 9.9 million

9:30 – FOX – American Dad – 3.1 (18-49) rating - 6.2 million viewers

10:00 – ABC – Oprah Primetime Special – 2.9 (18-49) rating – 11.8 million viewers
CBS – Cold Case / Criminal Minds (repeat) – 2.3 - 8.8 million

As usual, Sunday Night Football got the victory for NBC last night, but ABC was also strong with Brothers and Sisters posting season highs.

Football Night In America opened for NBC between 7-8.30pm, posting a 4.0 rating and 8.5 million viewers. The Vikings/ Cardinals game took top honors in the rest of primetime, averaging a 6.5 rating and just under 18 million viewers.

An NFL overrun at 7 helped FOX to second last night when combined with The OT, the BCS selection show and reruns of The Simpsons, Family Guy and American Dad.

ABC was third for the night with America’s Funniest Home Videos (2.0), Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (3.0), a strong Desperate Housewives (4.9) and a season best Brothers and Sisters (3.7), which was up nearly 30% vs. last week.

CBS was last but had a strong showing from The Amazing Race finale (3.7 rating, 12.3 million). At 7, 60 minutes was third for the eye and Cold Case was up to a 2.3 rating – obviously benefitting from the different timeslot. An NCIS: Los Angeles rerun was last at 10pm with a 1.6 rating and 7.3 million viewers.

Full Breakdown:

7:00 – FOX – NFL Football Overrun - 7.8  (18-49 rating) - 20.9 million viewers
NBC – Football Night In America – 2.8 –  7.8 million
ABC – America’s Funniest Home Videos (repeat) - 2.0 – 8.2 million
CBS – 60 Minutes - 2.1 – 11.8 million

7:30 – FOX – The OT – 4.5 - 11.1 million

8:00 – NBC - Football Night In America (8.30-11) - 6.5 (18-49 rating) – 17.8 million viewers
CBS – The Amazing Race (finale) - 3.7 – 12.3 million
FOX – BCS Selection Show – 3.4 - 8.6 million
ABC – Extreme Makeover: Home Edition - 3.0 - 10.3 million

8:30 – NBC Sunday Night Football - 6.8 (18-49 rating) – 18.892 million viewers
FOX - The Simpsons (repeat) - 2.6 - 5.6 million

9:00 – ABC – Desperate Housewives – 4.8 (18-49 rating) – 14.7 million viewers
FOX – Family Guy (repeat) – 3.0 - 6.1 million
CBS – Cold Case – 2.3 - 9.7 million

9:30 – FOX – American Dad (repeat) – 2.1 - 4.4 million viewers

10:00 – ABC – Brothers & Sisters (18-49 rating) - 3.7- 10.8 million viewers
CBS – NCIS: LA (repeat) – 1.6 - 7.3 million

FOX’s Animation Domination rebounded from last week to come second to Sunday Night Football on NBC.

Between 7-11, NBC’s NFL coverage of the Steelers/Ravens game averaged a 5.4 rating and 14 million viewers to win the night.

At 7, an NFL overrun/ The OT helped FOX to victory with a 4.9 rating and 12.8 million viewers. The Simpsons rebounded from last weeks season low to post a 4.2 rating, The Cleveland Show posted a 3.5, Family Guy was up nearly 25% with a 4.4 rating and American Dad was up with a 3.3 rating.

CBS went with 60 Minutes at 7, which averaged a 2.6 rating and 14.3 million viewers, third for the hour. The Amazing Race was roughly level with last week with a 3.4 rating, good enough for third at 8. The eye aired A Dog Named Christmas between 9-11 and it outrated Cold Case and the now defunct Three Rivers with a 2.1 rating.

ABC was last a 7 with America’s Funniest Home Videos (2.1 rating, 8.3 million viewers, last at 8 with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (3.0 rating, 10.4 million viewers), Second at 9 with Desperate Housewives (4.4 rating, 12.7 million viewers) and second at 10 with Brothers and Sisters (3.0 rating, 8.8 million viewers).

Full Ratings Breakdown:

7:00 – FOX - NFL Football - 6.2 A18-49 rating – 16.7 million viewers
CBS – 60 Minutes – 2.3 - 12.8 million
NBC – Football Night In America - 2.2 – 6.5 million
ABC – America’s Funniest Home Videos - 1.8 – 7.5 million

7:30 - FOX – The OT – 3.6 A18-49 rating – 9 million viewers
NBC – Football Night In America – 3.1 – 8.2 million
CBS – 60 Minutes – 2.9 - 15.8 million
ABC – America’s Funniest Home Videos - 2.4 - 9.2 million

8:00 – NBC Football Night In America – 4.9 A18-49 rating - 13.7 million viewers
FOX – The Simpsons – 4.2 - 9 million
CBS – The Amazing Race – 3.4 - 12 million
ABC – Extreme Makeover: Home Edition – 2.8 – 9.8 million

8:30 – NBC – Sunday Night Football: Pittsburg v. Baltimore – 6.9 A18-49 rating - 18.6 million viewers
FOX – The Cleveland Show – 3.5 - 7.2 million
CBS – The Amazing Race - 3.4 – 11.3 million
ABC – Extreme Makeover: Home Edition – 3.2 – 10.9 million

9:00 - NBC – Sunday Night Football: Pittsburg v. Baltimore – 6.6 A18-49 rating – 17.1 million viewers
FOX – Family Guy – 4.4 - 8.5 million
ABC – Desperate Housewives – 4.3 – 12.7 million
CBS – A Dog Named Christmas (special) - 2.0 – 11.7 million

9:30 – NBC Sunday Night Football: Pittsburg v. Baltimore – 6.4 A18-49 rating - 16.1 million viewers
ABC – Desperate Housewives – 4.4 – 12.6 million
FOX – American Dad – 3.3 - 6.4 million
CBS – A Dog Named Christmas (special) - 2.0 - 12.2 million

10:00 – NBC Sunday Night Football: Pittsburg v. Baltimore - 6.7 A18-49 rating – 16.1 million viewers
ABC – Brothers & Sisters - 3.2 – 9.2 million
CBS – A Dog Named Christmas (special) - 2.2 - 12.6 million

10:30 – NBC Sunday Night Football: Pittsburg v. Baltimore – 6.6 A18-49 rating – 15.8 million viewers
ABC – Brothers & Sisters – 2.8 – 8.5 million
CBS – A Dog Named Christmas (special) - 2.2 - 12.6 million

Apparently rumors of the former Soprano’s and Joey stars demise have been greatly exaggerated.

The rumors started earlier this week when the National Enquirer had a story about ABC not being happy with Desperate Housewives’ ratings of late and were going to cut back Drea Di Matteo’s episode order for budgetary reasons.

An insider, talking to EW, has said that this is not true and that De Matteo will see out the remainder of her 20 episode order with the primetime soap.

Last night saw the Colts beat the Patriots with a last gasp attack and it was NBC which reaped the benefits.

At 7pm, a football overrun helped FOX win the hour with The OT from 7.30-8. Football Night in America was second for NBC, pulling in a 2.7  rating and 7.3 million viewers.

As usual, Sunday Night Football won the night for NBC, averaging a 7.5 rating and just under 19 million viewers. In other news, Three Rivers and Cold Case were up a couple of ticks vs. last week, The Simpsons got a nice post- NFL bump and Brothers and Sisters were up 9% from last weeks series low (2.9 vs. 3.2).

7pm -
FOX – Football Overrun/ The OT - 6.6 rating (A18-49) – 17.5 million viewers. 
NBC – Football Night in America – 2.7 rating (A18-49) – 7.3 million viewers
CBS – 60 Minutes – 2.2 rating (A18-49) – 12.2 million viewers
ABC – America’s Funniest Home Videos - 2.2 rating – 8.5 million viewers

8pm -
NBC – Football Night in America/ SNF – 6.7 rating (A18-49) – 16.25 million
FOX – Simpsons/ Cleveland Show – 3.8 rating (A18-49) – 8 million viewers
ABC – Extreme Makeover: Home Edition – 3.6 rating (A18-49) – 11.58 million
CBS – The Amazing Race – 3.2 rating (A18-49) – 11.64 million viewers.

9pm -
NBC – Sunday Night Football – 7.7 rating (A18-49) -  20.9 million viewers.
ABC – Desperate Housewives – 4.9 rating (A18-49) – 14.4 million viewers. 
FOX - Family Guy/ American Dad – 3.5 rating (A18-49) – 7.1 million viewers
CBS – Three Rivers – 2.0 rating (A18-49) – 8.5 million viewers

10pm -
NBC – Sunday Night Football – 7.0 rating (A18-49) – 17.5 million viewers.
ABC – Brothers and Sisters – 3.2 rating (A18-49) – 10.2 million viewers.
CBS – Cold Case - 2.1 rating (A18-49) – 9.2 million viewers.

A 20 minute NFL overrun on CBS messed with the hourly numbers, but we still know that NBC and Sunday Night Football won the night in the key demographics.

At 7 pm, The 20 minute NFL overrun/60 Minutes won the hour for CBS drawing 15.6 million viewers and a 5.0 rating. Second was NBC’s Football Night In America with a 3.3 rating and 9 million viewers. A combination of Brothers (2.3) and an American Dad (2.1) rerun took third for FOX. ABC’s coverage of the NASCAR: Dickies 500 race and a half hour America’s Funniest Home Videos drew 6.5 million viewers and a 1.9 rating.

At 8, Football Night in America/ Sunday Night Football took the lead for NBC, with 18.2 million viewers and a 6.2 rating.  A Family Guy rerun replaced The Simpsons this week and combined with Family Guy Presents: Seth & Alex’s Almost Live Comedy Show drew a 3.6 rating and 7 million viewers. The end of 60 Minutes and beginning of The Amazing Race brought in 13 million viewers and a 3.5 rating – good enough for 3rd. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition took last place for ABC with a 3.0 rating and just under 10.5 million viewers.

At 9, Sunday Night Football continued to grow, bringing in 20.8 million viewers and a 7.5 rating – the highest of the night. Desperate Housewives took over the #2 spot for ABC with a 4.3 rating and 13.2 million viewers, down slightly vs. last week. A new Family Guy/ Cleveland Show combo took 3rd for FOX with a 3.6 rating and 7 million viewers, also down vs. last week. The end of The Amazing Race and Beginning of Three Rivers placed CBS in last for the hour, with a 2.2 rating and 8.6 million viewers.

The end of the Cowboys/Eagles game on NBC brought in a 7.4 rating and 18.4 million viewers, rounding off a good night for the peacock. Brothers and Sisters fell to season lows with a 2.9 rating and 9 million viewers for the alphabet. The end of Three Rivers/beginning of Cold Case brought in 8.2 million viewer and a 1.8 rating to end the night for CBS.

Last night the Yankees again beat the Phillies to take a 3-1 World Series lead. FOX, on the other hand, is 4-0 for the series.

FOX again took the nights honors between 8-11p, drawing a 7.7 rating and 22 million viewers with a nice lead in from the close Packers- Vikings game.

ABC’s lineup performed better than last week up against the Baseball coverage with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition pulling a 3.4 18-49 rating, Desperate Housewives rising to a 4.9 rating and Brothers & Sisters steady with a 3.3 rating.

CBS was downvs. last week with The Amazing Race pulling a 3.2 adults 18-49 rating, Three Rivers steady (but low) with a  1.7 rating, and Cold Case dropping to a series low 1.6 rating.

There wasn’t an NFL game on NBC last night so it went with Football Nght in America at 7, which averaged an anemic 0.6 rating and 2.6 million viewers. At 8, NBC went with the movie “National Treasure” which averaged a  1.6 rating and 4.8 million viewers between 8-11 pm.

So there’s a plane bearing towards Wisteria Lane and now we know who the pilot who crashes it is.

The Simpsons star Dan Castellaneta, (the voice of Homer Simpson), will be taking on the role of the pilot that crashes a small plane in Fairview during the midseason finale of Desperate Housewives on December 6.

Castellaneta has recently guest starred on Greek as Rusty and Dale’s professor in the ABC Family show.