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'Survivor' thriving

'Guatemala' finale sinks ABC on Sunday

By RICK KISSELL

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The two-hour conclusion to "Survivor: Guatemala" gave CBS a primetime ratings victory Sunday, as the reality adventure series showed it can still pack 'em in more than five years after its premiere.

According to preliminary nationals from Nielsen, "Survivor" averaged roughly a 7.8 rating/17 share in adults 18-49 and 21.3 million viewers overall; numbers are a bit murky because the show started about 8:30 p.m. in much of the country due to an NFL overrun on CBS.

This perf is up from the "Survivor: Vanuatu" finale one year ago by 4% in the 18-49 rating (7.8 vs. 5.6) and by 8% in 25-54 (9.3 vs. 8.6). In total viewers, "Guatemala" notched the best score for a "Survivor" finale since the show's eighth edition, "All-Stars," wrapped in May 2004.

While other competition reality shows like "The Bachelor" and "The Apprentice" have faded after hot starts, "Survivor" continues to thrive. It again dominated its regular Thursday-at-8 slot this fall despite some minor year-to-year ratings erosion, delivering its largest regular-slot aud of the season (20.2 million) last week.

Sunday's "Survivor: Guatemala" reunion show, which ran about 10:30-11:30 p.m. in much of the country, should come in around a 5.3/14 in 18-49 and 14.2 million viewers overall.

ABC saw its 11-week Sunday winning streak in adults 18-49 come to an end, placing second. Opposite the tough "Survivor" competish and without "Desperate Housewives" to draw additional viewers to the night, both "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (prelim 5.4/12 in 18-49, 13.8 million viewers overall for a two-hour episode from 8 to 10) and "Grey's Anatomy" (7.4/17 in 18-49, 16.4 million viewers overall) delivered their lowest firstrun scores of the season.

Alphabet's numbers are subject to revision since the ABC affils in both Detroit and Milwaukee carried Sunday night's NFL matchup between the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers.

Fox was paced by an original episode of "The Simpsons" at 8 (prelim 5.0/12 in 18-49, 10.4 million viewers overall), NBC by a firstrun seg of "Crossing Jordan" at 10 (prelim 3.2/7 in 18-49, 11.3 million).

Peacock's "The West Wing" continues to struggle mightily on its new night this fall, hitting its lowest firstrun score to date (prelim 2.0/5 in 18-49, 8.2 million viewers) and expected to place fifth in 18-49 for the 8 o'clock hour.