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Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs., Nov. 28-Tues., Dec. 3) -- the Cowboys' Thanksgiving turkey and other post-"sweeps" stuff(ing)

By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
The November ratings “sweeps” are history, with the local newscast results duly and exhaustively chronicled in these spaces.

So let’s at long last look at the numbers for the Dallas Cowboys’ annual Thanksgiving Day game, in which they got stuffed by the visiting Buffalo Bills.

Airing on CBS11, the 26-15 loss easily set a season high in total D-FW viewers, soaring past the two million mark with 2,094,893. In the advertiser-prized 18-to-49-year-old age range, Cowboys-Bills also hit a high point of 753,390 viewers.

Both totals are way up from last year’s Thanksgiving game, in which the Cowboys beat the Washington Redskins 31-23. That one averaged 1,651,886 total viewers, with 652,147 in the 18-to-49 realm.

NBC’s nighttime matchup between the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons drew 605,342 total viewers, falling short of the audience for the Peacock’s Macy’s parade presentation, which amassed an eye-popping 693,763 total viewers. Fox’s early afternoon Chicago Bears-Detroit Lions game ran second on Thanksgiving with -- holy crap -- 1,163,074 total viewers. It’s the first non-Cowboys NFL game to crack the one million mark this season.

OK, let’s fast-forward to Tuesday, where CBS11’s syndicated Wheel of Fortune drew the most viewers of the day with 278,866. Among 18-to-49ers, Fox’s 7 p.m. episode of The Resident led all TV attractions with 57,292 viewers.

On Monday, ESPN’s marquee Monday Night Football matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings of course easily topped the field with 367,286 total viewers and 143,230 in the 18-to-49 age range.

The NFL also ruled as always on Sunday, with NBC’s nighttime Houston Texans-New England Patriots face-off leading the way with 584,938 total viewers.

Close behind were Fox’s early afternoon Baltimore Ravens-San Francisco 49ers game (544,128 total viewers) and CBS’ following Kansas City Chiefs-Oakland Raiders mismatch (537,326).

Saturday’s college football parade was paced by Fox’s prime-time Oklahoma-Oklahoma State rivalry game, which drew 346,882 total viewers.

Friday’s prime-time leader, CBS’ annual reprise of Frosty Returns, pulled in 142,834 total viewers while its running mate, the preceding Frosty the Snowman, was the runner-up with 129,230 viewers. Both of them froze out and beat the first hour of Fox’s Friday Night Smackdown, which is kind of refreshing. But among 18-to-49ers, wrestling was the prime-time king.

Here are the Monday-Tuesday local news derby results. A majority of the combatants took holiday exemptions on Friday.

Monday -- WFAA8 led at 10 p.m. in total viewers while NBC5 drew the most 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).

Fox4 swept both the 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. competitions and added a 6 p.m. win with 25-to-54-year-olds. NBC5 drew the most total viewers at 6 p.m.

Tuesday -- WFAA8 again won in total viewers at 10 p.m., but this time it was Fox4 taking the 25-to-54 gold.

Fox4 also had twin wins at 6 a.m. and drew the most 25-to-54-year-olds at 5 and 6 p.m. NBC5 was tops in total viewers in both early evening competitions.

Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net