A pair of Yule-themed specials helped NBC turn in winning performances over the Christmas holiday, though ratings for all the broadcast networks were predictably awful.
A second encore showing of the "Saturday Night Live" clip special "A Very Gilly Christmas" averaged a 1.4 rating/5 share from 8-10 p.m. Friday, winning its timeslot and leading the Peacock to a rare win for the night (it tied ABC).
The only other broadcast with a pulse on Friday was ABC's showing of "Pirates of the Caribbean 2," which notched a 1.3/4 from 8-11 p.m. The movie beat a repeat of NBC's "The Jay Leno Show" at 10 p.m.
Over on Fox, the network's burn-off of four episodes of "Til Death" managed a coal-in-the-stocking 0.7/2.
Meanwhile, Christmas Eve once again proved the enduring appeal of "It's A Wonderful Life." The classic Jimmy Stewart movie won every half-hour of Thursday night, earning a 1.6/6. It peaked at a 2.1/7 in the 10:30 p.m. half-hour.
That performance was enough to give NBC a win for Thursday night as well. That's two nights in a row NBC was in first, for anyone keeping track at home.
