Nellie Andreeva

Sunday SAG Awards may have been predictable and even a tad boring with no upset wins but they scored solid ratings for TNT and TBS. The simulcast of the 17th Annual SAG Awards, highlighted by the surprise appearance of Dicky Eklund alongside winner Christian Bale, who portrays him in The Fighter, and a little-known Boardwalk Empire actress hijacking the show’s best ensemble acceptance speech, was watched by a little over 5 million viewers combined on TNT and TBS, up 6% from last year. (TNT’s viewership averaged 2.8 million, up 6%, TBS’ 2.2 million, also up 6%). The gains were larger in the young demos. The combines TNT/TBS delivery in adults 18-49 was 2.2 million, up 13% from last year and 1.2 million, up 30%.

Airing against the SAG Awards was the fourth episode of Showtime’s new drama Shameless, which averaged 1.5 million viewers at 10 PM, 1.1 million of them in the 18-49 demographic. that is a new high for the series, which has been building steadily since its impressive premiere, which drew 982,000 viewers.

TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.