NBC received a fine yuletide present via its two-hour Christmas Day special edition of Deal or No Deal, which led all shows in both hours starting at 8pm.  The network emerged ahead of the pack in overall standings for the night, according to Nielsen's Fast National Ratings.

NBC finished with a 5.5 rating/11 share, thanks in part to Deal or No Deal's two-hour triumph.

During its first hour, Deal or No Deal's Christmas offering garnered a 5.1/11 rating, besting CBS' NCIS, which earned a 4.5/9.  The first hour of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl gave ABC third place with 3.0/6, while FOX's Bones edged The CW's Crowned for fourth place.

In its second hour, Howie Mandel and his aptly dressed bevy of models, in fur-lined green holiday wear, drew in even more viewers, improving to 6.5/13 share of the ratings.  FOX moved up from fourth to second spot with House, which received 4.2/8, even as ABC stayed in third with the second half of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.  CBS' The Unit was fourth while The CW stayed put in fifth with Reaper.

When Deal or No Deal returns tonight with its first broadcast for the new year, the show will see the return of the Million Dollar Mission.  In its desire to give away the coveted million dollar prize, Deal or No Deal will add another $1 million dollar briefcase for the next contestant, for every participant who does not win $1 million.

Retired Port Authority Officer Will Jimeno of Chester, New Jersey will ring in 2008 and mark the start of the Million Dollar Mission.  Jimeno, who is a real-life hero and 9/11 World Trade Center survivor, gets the added bonus of kicking off the Million Dollar Mission with a pair of $1 million dollar cases on the board.


-Rosario Santiago, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Zap2it, NBC
(Image Courtesy of NBC)