Dec 9, 2008
The series finale of David E. Kelley’s “Boston Legal” was predictably unpredictable, with an unlikely twosome tying the knot in the end (spoiler alert – the names appear further down in the story).
The show’s two-hour sendoff drew decent numbers, too, despite airing against originals on CBS and ESPN’s always-dominant “Monday Night Football.”
“Legal” averaged 10.2 million total viewers from 9 to 11 p.m., according to Nielsen overnights, 11 percent above its season average of 9.2 million.
The show averaged a 2.4 adults 18-49 rating, matching its season average, though that was still a decent showing considering it was without sometime lead-in “Dancing with the Stars,” which boosted ABC’s entire Monday lineup until its midseason finale two weeks ago.
“Legal” was never a huge ratings draw, though it enjoyed some critical acclaim and lots of Emmy love. The show finished its five-year run on a surprising note when platonic friends Denny and Alan got married.
With “Legal’s” departure, Kelley is now without a show in primetime for the first time in two decades.
As a reminder, all ratings are based on live-plus-same-day DVR playback. Seven-day DVR data won’t be available for several weeks. Twenty-eight percent of Nielsen households have DVRs.
CBS led the night among viewers 18-49 with a 4.1 average overnight Nielsen rating and a 10 share. ABC was second at 2.9/7, NBC third at 2.6/7, Fox fourth at 2.0/5, Univision fifth at 1.7/4 and CW sixth at 1.2/3.
At 8 p.m. CBS was first with a 4.0 for “The Big Bang Theory” (3.7) and “How I Met Your Mother” (4.2), followed by ABC with a 3.8 for “Charlie Brown Christmas.” NBC was third with a 2.4 for “Chuck,” Fox fourth with a 1.8 for “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” Univision fifth with a 1.7 for “Cuidado con el Angel” and CW sixth with a 1.5 for “Gossip Girl.”
CBS was first again at 9 p.m. with a 4.3 for “Two and a Half Men” (5.2) and “Worst Week” (3.5), with NBC second with a 3.6 for “Heroes.” ABC was third with a 2.3 for “Legal,” Fox fourth with a 2.1 for “Prison Break,” Univision fifth with a 1.8 for “Fuego en la Sangre” and CW sixth with a 1.0 for “Privileged.” (note that once again "Heroes" was #1 in its time slot in its last half against "Worst," "Boston," "Break," and whatever the CW and Univision had on)
At 10 p.m. CBS completed the nightly sweep with a 4.0 for “CSI: Miami,” while ABC moved to second with a 2.6 for more “Legal.” NBC was third with a 1.8 for “My Own Worst Enemy” and Univision fourth with a 1.5 for “Cristina.”
CBS also finished first for the night among households with a 7.9 average overnight rating and a 12 share. ABC was second at 6.4/10, NBC third at 3.9/6, Fox fourth at 3.3/5, Univision fifth at 2.2/3 and CW sixth at 1.7/3.
http://www.medialifemagazine.com/artman2/publish/Overnights_50/Solid_finale_for_ABC_s_Boston_Legal.asp
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