CBS tops Monday; 'Boston Legal' climbs in finale

CBS chalked up another ratings victory Monday night, which marked the farewell of ABC's "Boston Legal."

"Boston Legal's" two-hour series finale concluded slightly higher than its average this season, benefiting from a strong lead-in from the network's airing of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (11.4 million viewers, 3.8 rating/10 share among adults 18-49, down 17% from the special's comparable airing last year).

David E. Kelley's legal dramedy averaged 10.2 million viewers and 2.4/6 among adults 18-49, posting a season high in total viewers and tying its fall premiere for the highest 18-49 rating of the season.

Over at CBS, "The Big Bang Theory" continues to grow. The sophomore comedy drew 10.8 million viewers -- its largest audience ever, beating the record set by the show's most recent original episodes two weeks ago.

With ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" on hiatus, CBS' other returning comedies, "How I Met Your Mother" (10.5 million, 4.2/11) and "Two and a Half Men" (15.6 million, 5.2/13), also saw their audiences go up a little, hitting season highs in total viewers, while freshman "Worst Week" (10.6 million, 3.6/9) logged its best viewer and 18-49 numbers since its premiere.

NBC's lineup of "Chuck" (6.9 million, 2.4/6), "Heroes" (7.8 million, 3.6/9) and "My Own Worst Enemy" (4.0 million, 1.8/5) was on par with recent performances, as were Fox's "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" (5.2 million, 1.8/5) and "Prison Break" (5.3 million, 2.1/5) and CW's "Gossip Girl" (3 million, 1.5/4) and "Privileged" (1.9 million, 1.0/2)

The two networks finished third, fourth and the fifth in the 18-49 demo, respectively.

Comments

[Frodo]

Nothing better than coming home Monday night to an evening with CBS' comedy lineup, I love it.

[Jeffrey]

Serves ABC right for rushing BOSTON LEGAL off their schedule.

When I programmed it into my DVR, it didn't even show up as one episode - I had to select both hours, separately, as two parts. Talk about no respect.

And when their next big drama fails, they have no one to blame for not producing a back nine for this series.

[Carol Patterson]

A loyal following of over 49, as pointed out in Boston Legal's recent episode, is nothing to sneeze at...the bozos at the networks are missing a bet dismissing people after they turn 50...it antagonizes millions of people who are not into watching people the age of their children in various uncomfortable situations...in the reverse, if they don't like watching people their parents age...DON'T WATCH...but we want those shows and find other ways to spend our time and money when they aren't available!

[ERROL]

One of the most intelligently written, sophisticated, cutting edge(current events) shows ever conceived falls prey to bimbo mentality, reality & narrow minded executive decision making, & the dumbing of America, not to mention the "Mouse" agenda. We will be hard pressed to find a show as funny, poignant & with a message of hope, that the little guy can win at times, on broadcast tv as this one is. Let's hope for a spinoff. w. James & Bill

[sari]

@Carol they don't care about the over 50 crowd...it's business dear, nothing personal but people over 50 watch more tv so that audience is easy to find and advertise to...the younger demo is what they lust after

[DJ]

I have been a fan of Boston Legal since it was The Practice! I love this show dearly. I agree with Errol, "...One of the most intelligently written, sophisticated, cutting edge(current events) shows ever conceived" I schedule my appointments around this show! I can't believe you guys are putting it on a shelf with numbers coming in at 10 million plus viewers for Monday night's finale. Who chose to shut it down? Certainly not the viewers! I think you should look at how we are voting....."Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" (5.2 million, 1.8/5) and "Prison Break" (5.3 million, 2.1/5) and CW's "Gossip Girl" (3 million, 1.5/4) and "Privileged" (1.9 million, 1.0/2). <---------This is the viewership of the younger demographic. Boston Legal AVERAGED 10 million plus viewers. I would say these numbers are easily translate into dollars, don't you? If I am in my 30, think of how many years of TV viewing I have ahead of me and how much more earning potential to vote with my dollars I have as well!

Maybe we can send the network cigars in protest and hope for them to make a logical decision to bring the show back! Anybody with me?

DJ

[matt]

i certainly agree (i'm 25) that Boston Legal was a very good show...and I know for a fact that even amongst some people my age it had a decent following....it could've easily gone for another year or two....it would've been interesting to see Alan Shore or Denny Crane's take on the new administration certainly.

It all came down to economics tho---Shatner, Spader, Bergen, and even Larroquette all cost mucho dinero i'm sure (as well as Kelley)

but even more important (And Kelley would agree with me here) ABC DOESN'T OWN THE SHOW...SO IT DID NOT HAVE ANY INSENTIVE--FINANCIALLY TO KEEP IT ON...The parent company of ABC doesn't profit in any way by ordering more episodes and selling them into syndication the way it would say constantly renewing According To Jim (which can sell those reruns for money that goes directly to mothership Disney)

that's sadly the long and the short of it. If ABC/Disney owned the show...me thinks they would've let it play out the rest of the season at the very least. oh well.

At least we have the reruns to remember them by.

[Judy]

Bring back Boston Legal!!!!!