Most watched show in cable history ...
 

... is Vikings-Packers on MNF. Say what you will about the ESPN hype for Favre, it worked.

Media Life Magazine - 'Monday Night Football' in cable record
The Minnesota Vikings scored a narrow win over the Green Bay Packers Monday night. ESPN's victory was much bigger.

The network's much-hyped "Monday Night Football" game between the Vikings and Packers became the most-watched cable show of all time, obliterating the old record.

"MNF" averaged 21.8 million total viewers, surpassing the mark set by the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles last year on ESPN by 17 percent. That game averaged 18.6 million total viewers.

It marked the third time in three seasons that ESPN has reset the record. Two years ago a game between the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots averaged a then-record 17.5 million.

Monday's "MNF" also set a record for the highest-rated football game ever on the network, averaging a 15.3 among households, according to Nielsen.

That bettered a 1987 game between the Vikings and Chicago Bears that averaged a 14.4 during ESPN's first season carrying the NFL.

The record was anything but unexpected. Vikings quarterback and future Hall of Famer Brett Favre was facing his former squad for the first time since retiring and then unretiring in 2008.

The ESPN hype machine went into overtime, featuring countless pregame previews and reports. But other sports news outlets also went nuts in anticipation of the game, which only helped drive up viewership.

Favre had a solid outing in the game, which Minnesota won 30-23, throwing for three touchdowns and 271 yards.

I watched it. I usually watch the Monday night game, but I was definitely more interested in this one than most.

I watched it, but went to bed at the end of the 3rd quarter. What can I say? I was tired and my wife is out of town this week so I have to take care of the baby myself.

I found myself with mixed emotions during the game. Part of me remembered the old Brett Favre that I was a fan of, and the other part remembered the more recent attention-whoring version. I realize he was probably that way all along, and I just didn't know it.

In the end, I guess I was rooting for the Vikings most of the time.

With the previous couple of records also being MNF games it makes sense that the writer says this is unsurprising. It makes me wonder what the most watched non-football show in cable history was.

Monday Night Football – Cable’s All-Time Biggest Audience and ESPN’s Highest Rating Ever - TV Ratings, Nielsen Ratings, Television Show Ratings | TVbytheNumbers.com

This link would show it to be High School Musical 2, followed by a NAFTA debate on Larry King from 1993. Hm.

Thanks for that. Pretty impressive for 1993 by Larry King's show.

Congratulations. You have just come up with a fantastic euphemism.

Maybe he's been going here

The Always Amusing Euphemism Generator

I watched this since my wife is a HUGE Farve fan.He certainly did'nt disapoint.

Ha! I bookmarked that. My favorite so far "Pillaging the Sacred Burrito"

"One thing I could never figure out was how he kept his shoes on while
salting the smurfy midget."

Just a guess but I would say the series finale of the Sopranos

Thought the same but with HBO being a premium channel, I'm not sure the subscriber base is high enough (I honestly have no clue what that number is). Although at the same time, I'm sure 99% of those that get HBO were tuned in that night.

And I also can't think of non-sporting events that draw well outside of network TV.

It would of been even better if it was in Green Bay.

Why isn't there a site that's dedicated to TV ratings, the money involved, etc.? I think boxofficemojo does that for movies in terms of money involved.

Umm ... www.tvbythenumbers.com

(the source of one of those links up the thread here)

"Instead, she spent the night alone,
harvesting the clam."