Strong finale for 'Survivor' | Reality Show Wraps Up 19th Edition On Top | Survivor: Samoa' Finale was Up Against Last Year's Edition

CBS reality vet "Survivor," set to celebrate its 10th anniversary next year, wrapped its 19th edition with impressive numbers Sunday -- up vs. last year, with the show easily standing as the night's top entertainment program.

The strong finish marks the end of a good fall for the Eye's reality staples. Both "Survivor" and "The Amazing Race," which began in 2001, delivered better numbers with their season finales than a year ago.

Looking at prelim national estimates from Nielsen for Sunday, "Survivor: Samoa" averaged roughly a 4.5 rating/11 share in adults 18-49 and 14.2 million viewers overall from 8 to 10:10 p.m. -- up vs. the finale of "Survivor: Gabon" in December 2008 (4.4 rating in 18-49, 13.8 million viewers). For CBS, result is the best in the timeslot with entertainment programming this season.It was followed by the "Survivor" reunion show, which should come in with about 3.8/10 in 18-49 and 11.8 million viewers overall.

And kicking off the night was "60 Minutes" (2.4/7 in 18-49, 13.0 million viewers overall), whose numbers are likely inflated by a football overrun in New York and a few other markets.

The 20th edition of "Survivor," an all-star season called "Heroes vs. Villains," kicks off Feb. 11 with a two-hour episode.At NBC, the "Sunday Night Football" matchup pitting the Carolina Panthers against the Minnesota Vikings averaged a 5.6 rating/14 share in adults 18-49 and 15.8 million viewers overall on the network's affiliates from 8:30 to 11 p.m., with nationals expected to rise 5%-10%. It will once again rule as the evening's No. 1 program in most categories.

Fox got a huge lift on the night from an NFL overrun and postgame show that should average above an 8 rating in 18-49 when nationals are released. The football action led into repeats of animated laffers "The Simpsons" (3.8/10 in 18-49, 8.2 million viewers overall), "The Cleveland Show" (2.8/7 in 18-49, 5.9 million viewers overall), "Family Guy" (3.1/8 in 18-49, 6.3 million viewers overall) and "American Dad" (2.5/6 in 18-49, 5.1 million viewers overall).

ABC didn't do much with its lineup of a repeat "America's Funniest Home Videos" (1.7/5 in 18-49, 7.0 million viewers overall), the premiere of movie "The Santa Clause 3" (1.9/5 in 18-49, 7.1 million viewers overall) and a special 10 p.m. repeat of "Desperate Housewives" (1.2/3 in 18-49, 4.0 million viewers overall).

Net will look to add some fresh blood to its reality ranks in February with the post-Super Bowl launch of "Undercover Boss" (Daily Variety, Dec. 21). Show will be part of a two-hour Sunday-night reality block, regularly following "The AmazingRace" beginning Feb. 14.

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