TOM PETTY - SUPER BOWL NABS GIANT RATINGS -- BUT NO RECORD

The New York Giants' stunning upset defeat of the New England Patriots averaged a 46.4 rating and a 67 share in the Nielsen overnights between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Sunday. The Fox telecast recorded a 34.8/67 among adults 18-49. Approximately 89.10 million viewers tuned in -- well short of the record 94.08 million who watched the 1996 Super Bowl. Few tuned out following the game with Fox's post-game show drawing a 44.0/63. The half-hour of House that aired in primetime between 10:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. in most of the country recorded a 23.1/36. The half-time show featuring Tom Petty aired without controversy. The Associated Press remarked, "There were no wardrobe -- or any other kind of -- malfunctions." Commercials were mostly humorous and/or satirical, "a welcome contrast to the angry, off-putting tenor of too many spots in last year's Super Bowl, which were filled with crude and cartoonish violence," commented New York Times advertising columnist Stuart Elliott. However, TV Guide's Matt Roush remarked that the telecast presented "a parade of silly ads, only a few of which are likely to be remembered in a day, a week, let alone a year from now." Meanwhile, CBS announced today (Monday) that it has landed New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning as a guest on David Letterman's show (which originates in New York) tonight. Hillary Clinton is also scheduled for the show.

04/02/2008