'THE CELEBRITY APPRENTICE' FINALE IS THURSDAY'S #1 SHOW IN 18-49 AND TOTAL VIEWERS, CURRENTLY PACING NBC TO A THURSDAY WIN IN BOTH CATEGORIES
LAST NIGHT'S 'CELEBRITY APPRENTICE' IS THE TOP-SCORING FINALE IN THE 'APPRENTICE' FRANCHISE SINCE THE FINAL EPISODE OF 'APPRENTICE 4' IN DECEMBER 2005
'CELEBRITY APPRENTICE' SURGES 41 PERCENT IN ADULTS 18-49 AND 51 PERCENT IN TOTAL VIEWERS VERSUS THE MOST RECENT 'APPRENTICE' FINALE IN APRIL 2007
BURBANK, Calif. March 28, 2008 Paced by the finale of "The Celebrity Apprentice," which was the #1 telecast of the night in adults 18-49 and total viewers, NBC is currently #1 for Thursday night in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures, according to "fast affiliate-based" "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research (pending updates).
Last night from 9-11 p.m. ET, the live finale of "The Celebrity Apprentice" (4.5 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49, 12.1 million viewers overall) scored NBC's highest 18-49 rating in this slot in six months (since September 27, 2007, during premiere week) and delivered NBC's biggest overall viewership in the time period for a non-sports telecast in 16 months (since November 23, 2006).
This was the top-scoring finale in "The Apprentice" franchise in both adults 18-49 and total viewers since the conclusion of "The Apprentice 4" on December 15, 2005. Last night's "Celebrity Apprentice" finale was up 41 percent in 18-49 rating and 51 percent in total viewers versus the most recent finale in "The Apprentice" franchise (a 3.2/8 in 18-49 and 8.0 million viewers overall for the finale of "The Apprentice 6" on Sunday, April 22, 2007).
Throughout its current run "The Celebrity Apprentice" has consistently outpaced the prior cycle in "The Apprentice" franchise and it has concluded its run with overall gains of 24 percent in 18-49 rating (3.6 vs. 2.9) and 27 percent in total viewers (9.1 million vs. 7.2 million) versus the prior cycle (based on "live plus same day" averages).