`Dexter` season finale slashes records

The fourth-season finale of Showtime`s `Dexter` was seen by 2.6 mn viewers!

Los Angeles: The fourth-season finale of Showtime`s "Dexter" was seen by 2.6 million viewers on Sunday -- blowing away all modern records for the cable network.

The brutal "Dexter" closer was the most-watched original series episode ever on Showtime, and the most watched telecast since a Mike Tyson fight in 1999. "Dexter" was 54% higher than last year`s finale. The season three finale of "Californication" was also a series high, 1.1 million viewers, though still dropping considerably from its "Dexter" lead in. E!`s "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" also had a record-setting episode Sunday, the fourth-season premiere drawing a record 4.1 million viewers. That made it the most-watched telecast on the network in seven years. TV Guide`s "I Dreamed a Dream: The Susan Boyle Story" drew 1.1 million viewers, ranking as the network`s most-watched TV special in its history. On broadcast, "Oprah`s Christmas at the White House" special performed solidly for ABC, drawing 11.8 million viewers. Aside from the American Music Awards, that`s ABC largest audience in the time period this season, despite its 10 p.m. slot having a reduced lead-in from a two-hour "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (10.3 million) instead of "Desperate Housewives." NBC`s telecast of "Sunday Night Football" once again dominated overall, the Philadelphia at NY Giants game drawing strong early numbers (18.6 million). CBS` airing of "60 Minutes" (14.6 million), "Cold Case" (9.8 million), and crime drama repeats was boosted by some NFL overrun. Fox`s animation block was down, with "The Simpsons" (7.1 million), "Cleveland" (6.5 million), "Family Guy" (7.7 million) hitting season lows, followed by "American Dad" (6.2 million). Bureau Report