Friday’s ratings race made it abundantly clear that there is nothing like a classic.
CBS’ “The I Love Lucy Christmas Special,” a colorized repackaging of the classic sitcom’s Christmas episode (which first aired in December 1956), won the nightly ratings race with a 1.4 adults 18-49 rating and 8.65 million viewers.
The hourlong broadcast, which aired from 8-9PM, topped a re-run of ABC’s “Shark Tank” (1.1, 5.00 million), the first hour of NBC’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1.0, 4.95 million), a re-run of FOX’s “Bones” (0.8, 3.39 million) and a new “Carrie Diaries” (0.3, .87 million).
Without “Lucy” to fear, the 9PM re-run of “Shark Tank” claimed its hour with a 1.3 and 5.44 million. CBS’ “Hawaii 5-0” followed with a 1.2 and 9.38 million, which was enough to top hour two of “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1.2, 5.50 million), FOX’s “Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown” (0.6, 1.90 million) and The CW’s “Nikita” (0.2, .74 million).
“It’s a Wonderful Life” and ABC’s “20/20” shared first place honors at 10PM. Both drew a 1.2 rating; the former averaged 5.67 million viewers, while the latter attracted 5.49 million. CBS’ “Blue Bloods” drew a competitive 1.1 with 10.18 million.