Parton, Christmas tree lighting, Cowboys give NBC big week

Parton, Christmas tree lighting, Cowboys give NBC big week

NEW YORK

With the help of Dolly Parton, an iconic Christmas tree lighting, “The Voice” and the Dallas Cowboys, NBC enjoyed one of its best weeks in television ratings in years.

Aside from times when NBC had the Olympics or Super Bowl, the week ending Sunday was the network’s most-watched in 19 years, said Bob Greenblatt, NBC chairman.

For the week of Nov. 28-Dec. 4, the top 10 shows, their networks and viewerships: NFL Football: Dallas at Minnesota, NBC, 21.76 million; NFL Football: Carolina at Seattle, NBC, 17.75 million; “The Big Bang Theory,” CBS, 14.54 million; “Sunday Night NFL Pre-Kick,” NBC, 13.65 million; NFL Football: Green Bay at Philadelphia, ESPN, 13.06 million; “Thursday Night NFL Pre-Kick,” NBC, 12.23 million; “The OT,” Fox, 12.18 million; “60 Minutes,” CBS, 11.85 million; Movie: “Christmas of Many Colors,” NBC, 11.58 million; “The Voice” (Tuesday), NBC, 10.64 million viewers.

‘Game of Thrones’ actor Vaughan dies at 93

LONDON

Veteran British character actor Peter Vaughan, who played the enigmatic Maester Aemon in “Game of Thrones,” has died at 93.

Vaughan’s agent Sally Long-Innes says he died Tuesday, surrounded by his family.

Vaughan’s face – if not his name – was familiar to generations of television viewers in Britain and around the world. His best-known roles included criminal Harry Grout in 1970s prison sitcom “Porridge.”

Associated Press