NBC's tsunami telethon took in a wave of donations last week.
The Jan. 15 star-studded benefit to aid victims of the earthquake-induced tsunami took in more than $18 million dollars, the network said Friday.
In addition, NBC network affiliates raised $10 million through their own telethons.
All proceeds will go to the American Red Cross.
An estimated 5.7 million tuned in to NBC to watch the likes of show ringleader George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Drew Barrymore and Ben Affleck work the phones as Madonna, Diana Ross, Elton John, Norah Jones performed on Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope. Overall, nearly 20 million caught some, or all, of the telecast on NBC and its cable networks, including Bravo, USA, Sci Fi, MSNBC, and CNBC.
In 2001, nearly 89 million watched some, or all, of America: A Tribute to Heroes, a similar all-star telethon for 9/11 victims.
A Tribute to Heroes was carried by about 30 cable and broadcast networks. Tsunami Aid, on about 10 NBC-owned outlets, faced stiff competition from a prime-time football playoff game on Fox, which drew 21.5 million viewers.
Clooney and his compatriots donated their time for the special. Corporate sponsors also helped out by picking up the production cost tab for Tsunami Aid.