TV Ratings: Sunday brings little magic for 'Merlin'

'Merlin'

Credit: NBC

Fast National ratings for Sunday, June 21, 2009.

Two hours of the series premiere of NBC's "Merlin" didn't exactly put a spell on viewers, but it wasn't like any other network worked any Sunday night magic.

Among adults 18-49, FOX came out on top with a 1.5 rating, nipping the 1.4 rating for NBC and the 1.2 rating for CBS. ABC's 1.0 rating was fourth in the key demographic, with The CW's 0.3 rating taking fifth.

Overall, though, CBS averaged an estimated 7 million viewers in primetime to go with a 4.6 rating/9 share, a comfortable win over the 3.3/6 for NBC. ABC's 2.6/5 and the 2.0/4 for NBC followed. The CW had a 0.6/1 for fifth.

CBS started the night in first with a 5.4/11 for "60 Minutes." NBC took second with a 4.1/9 for U.S. Open golf over-run and "Dateline NBC." ABC's "Just For Laughs" was a distant third with a 1.9/4, topping the totals for FOX's "King of the Hill" and "American Dad." The CW trailed with an encore of "Reaper," which had a 0.5/1.

A repeat of "Million Dollar Password" did a 4.2/8 for CBS, winning the 8 p.m. hour. The first hour of NBC's "Merlin" was second with a 3.4/7. ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" was third, beating the 2.3/4 averaged by FOX's "The Simpsons" and "Family Guy." The FOX animation won the hour in the 18-49 demographic, with "Merlin" coming in second. The CW's movie, "Good Boy," was fifth with a 0.6/1.

In the 9 p.m. hour, CBS' "Cold Case" was first with a 4.4/8. "Merlin" slipped slightly to a 3.1/5 on NBC, but still held off the 2.9/5 for ABC's miniseries event "Impact." FOX's "Family Guy" and "American Dad" were a close fourth overall, but easily won the hour in the 18-49 demo. The CW's movie remained in fifth.

CBS stayed in first at 10 p.m. with a 4.4/8 for "Without a Trace." The second hour of "Impact" improved to a 3.1/6, barely beating "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" on NBC.

All ratings information comes from preliminary Fast National Nielsen data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are subject to change, particularly in the case of live events.

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