John Shearer/Getty ImageWeekend TV's Big Winner, Besides Coldplay, et. al: The Grammys. From 8-11:30 p.m., the show averaged an estimated 19.1 million, CBS said. If the number holds, the show will have grown by nearly 2 million viewers from last year, and will have scored its second-biggest audience of the past five telecasts.
Guess You Had to See It to Believe It: The Jonas Brothers-Steve Wonder jam aired during the Grammys' most-watched prime-time half-hour, averaging 21.3 million from 9-9:30 p.m., Nielsen estimates showed.
Don't Take It Personally, Neil Diamond: Like many shows, the Grammys petered out as the night wore on. The show's 10:30 p.m. half-hour, featuring performances by Diamond and a John Mayer-assisted Bo Diddley tribute, was its least-watched in prime time, with 17.6 million viewers.
How'd the Grammys Stack Up Against American Idol? Better, but let's not lose our heads.
Even in the Grammys' biggest prime-time hour, featuring Jonas Brothers, Wonder, Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Kenny Chesney, Katy Perry and the kitchen sink, the show didn't come within 6 million viewers of, say, last Wednesday's American Idol, featuring Bikini Girl and a bunch of bickering teenagers.
In the 18-49 demo, Wednesday's Idol outrated the Grammys' 9 p.m. hour by nearly 20 percent.
Etc.: Desperate Housewives (13.7 million) and Brothers & Sisters (9.3 million) had better luck against the Grammys than the NFL playoffs; 60 Minutes (16.8 million) cashed in on an interview with the hero pilot behind the Hudson River landing; NBC continued to repell 18-49-year-olds with TV-movies and miniseries (the latest being Sunday's XIII).
Friday Night Lights Watch: Fourth place in viewers (4.2 million on Friday night, as reported by MediaWeek); fourth place in the 18-49 demo; needing a Hail Mary, pronto.