The two-hour finale of “Survivor: Cook Islands” was the lowest-rated final episode in the show’s history, but still managed to win Sunday night for CBS.

“Survivor” earned a 5.7 among adults 18 to 49, according to preliminary Nielsen Media Research ratings, down 8 percent from last spring’s “Survivor” finale and down 26 percent from last fall’s. The “Survivor: Reunion” special garnered a 5.1, up 11 percent from the spring’s reunion and down 11 percent from last fall.

The block gave CBS the night over second-place Fox, which was boosted by a half-hour of NFL overrun. Of the Fox comedies, “Family Guy” led the block with a 4.5 rating, which was up 10 percent compared with its season average.

NBC was in third place with “Sunday Night Football” (5.7), which featured Kansas City vs. San Diego, the lowest-rated game in two months, down 39 percent from last Sunday’s match.

ABC came in fourth airing “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (2.8) for the second time this month, followed by a movie and a “Desperate Housewives” repeat.

The CW had “Reba” (1.3), followed by a repeat of “America’s Next Top Model: British Invasion” (0.4).

On Saturday night, Fox won the evening with “COPS” (2.1) and “America’s Most Wanted” (2.2), facing off against a field of theatrical movies. ABC’s second run of “Finding Nemo” (1.4), CBS’s “Elf” (2.1) and NBC’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1.7) all had modest ratings.

On Friday, CBS won the night with its drama slate of “Ghost Whisperer” (2.8), “Close to Home” (2.5) and “Numb3rs” (3.1). NBC came in second with its game show “1 vs. 100” (2.3), “Las Vegas” and a “Law & Order” rerun. ABC came in third with “America’s Funniest Home Videos” (1.7) and “20/20” (2.2). Fox was fourth with “Justice” (1.2) and “Trading Spouses” (1.3). The CW had “Friday Night Smackdown” (1.6), which matched its season high.



(Editor: Liff)