Farewell 'M*A*S*H'; Super Bowl 2010 now most-watched

After 27 years, it finally is time for the venerable series finale of "M*A*S*H" to say goodbye, farewell and amen to its status as the most-watched American television program.

The National Football League capped a season of record viewership by attracting an average of 106.5 million people for the New Orleans Saints' 31-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV Sunday, surpassing the Feb. 28, 1983, episode of "M*A*S*H," which attracted 106 million in a nation with about 75 million fewer residents, the Nielsen Co. said.

The figure easily topped last year's Super Bowl between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals, the previous record holder for an American sports event, with 98.7 million viewers.

The game widely was expected to exceed 100 million but only a close, exciting contest gave it a chance at the record.

Wayne Rogers, who played Trapper John on "M*A*S*H," was philosophical about the show losing its status. "Records are meant to be broken," he told Fox Business Network. "We were lucky at the time that we did 'M*A*S*H' there weren't all of these competing networks."

The Super Bowl came two weeks after the largest viewerships for the conference finals in more than two decades. TV executives have various theories for the season of strong ratings, including cheap entertainment in an era of economic stress.

The rating for the game, which measures the percentage of homes tuned in, averaged 45.0, the best figure since 1996, when the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers averaged 46.0 at a time of fewer cable channels to distract viewers.

(The "M*A*S*H" finale's 60.2 is likely unapproachable today.)

Between 9 and 9:30 p.m. Sunday, the game attracted an average of 114.1 million viewers, 48.5 percent of all U.S. homes. New Orleans had the highest rating among major markets with 56.3 percent. Snowbound Washington, D.C., was second at 56.0. Nashville was third at 54.4, then Indianapolis at 54.2. New York's 41.1 rating was 51st among the 56 markets measured.

Five Most-Viewed Programs in U.S. history

1. Super Bowl XLIV (2010) . . . 106.5 million

2. "M*A*S*H" finale (1983) . . . 106 million

3. Super Bowl XLIII (2009) . . . 98.7 million

4. Super Bowl XLII (2008) . . . 97.5 million

5. Super Bowl XXX (1996) . . . 94.1 million