The post-Super Bowl edition of “Glee” easily posted a series ratings high Sunday night, but the performance was far from spectacular.
According to time-adjusted fast nationals, “Glee” scored an 11.1 adults 18-49 rating with 26.8 million viewers. Though that marks an improvement over “The Office,” which aired in 2009 to an 11.0 rating with 22.9 million viewers, it pales in comparison to the numbers posted by “Undercover Boss” after last year’s Super Bowl.
True success, however, will not be assessed until ratings for Tuesday’s new episode of “Glee” are made available. Prior to Sunday’s episode, “Glee” episodes had settled into an adults 18-49 rating average in the mid-to-high 4s, down from performances in the high-5s very early in the season. If “Glee” returns right back to the 4.5-5.0 range for its first regularly-scheduled episode since last fall, the Super Bowl move should probably be viewed as a bust (obviously, FOX will still gladly take that performance for a scripted show in 2011).
Final Super Bowl numbers are still not available, but there is a good chance the ratings will eclipse last year’s record-setting numbers and cement the Packers-Steelers game as the most-watched US telecast of all-time.
