Overnights
Big tune-in for ABC's 'Shrek the Halls'
By Toni Fitzgerald
Nov 29, 2007 - 11:39:16 AM

Shrek proved just as popular on the small screen as he is on the big. Dreamworks’ animated green ogre gave ABC a huge finish on the final night of sweeps, further ensuring a third straight November victory for the network.

“Shrek the Halls” averaged a 7.2 rating among adults 18-49, according to Nielsen overnights, drawing 21.2 million total viewers in the 8 p.m. timeslot.

The all-new special, which saw Shrek and wife Fiona celebrating their first Christmas with the triplets she had in summer blockbuster “Shrek the Third,” proved a perfect lead-in for the annual staple “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

“Grinch” averaged a 6.8 18-49 rating and 18.7 million total viewers. The two specials pushed ABC to victory last night in 18-49s, though its lineup faded noticeably at 9 and 10 p.m., without solid usual 9 p.m. occupant “Private Practice” on the schedule.

ABC averaged a 4.5 average overnight rating and an 11 share for the night. CBS was second at 3.5/9, Fox third at 2.8/7, NBC fourth at 2.1/5, CW fifth at 1.9/5 and Univision sixth at 1.7/4.
 
At 8 p.m. ABC was first with a 7.0 average rating for its holiday specials “Shrek” (7.2) and “Grinch” (6.8), followed by CW with a 2.4 for “America’s Next Top Model.” Fox was third with a 2.3 for an hour of “Til Death,” CBS fourth with a 2.1 for “Kid Nation,” NBC fifth with a 2.0 for “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” and Univision sixth with a 1.0 for “Amar sin Limites.”
 
CBS took the lead at 9 p.m. with a 4.5 for “Criminal Minds,” while ABC slipped to second with a 3.8 for “Pushing Daisies.” Fox was third with a series-high 3.3 for “Kitchen Nightmares,” Univision fourth with a 2.6 for “Destilando Amor,” NBC fifth with a series-low 2.2 for “Bionic Woman” and CW sixth with a 1.4 for “Gossip Girl.” That marked “Girl’s” second-best rating among 18-49s so far this season, and the show also posted its second-best rating among viewers 18-34 (1.8).
 
At 10 p.m. CBS led again with a 4.1 for “CSI: NY,” with ABC second with a 2.6 for “Dirty Sexy Money.” NBC was third with a 2.2 for “Life” and Univision fourth with a 1.4 for “Don Francisco Presenta.”
 
Among households, CBS finished first for the night with a 7.9 average overnight rating and a 12 share. ABC was second at 7.1/11, NBC third at 4.7/7, Fox fourth at 4.0/6, CW fifth at 2.7/4 and Univision sixth at 2.2/3.