Super Bowl ratings down from last year
With a partial power outage, an overly excited quarterback and a game that suddenly turned from snoozer to sizzler, CBS had its hands full at the Super Bowl. The game fell short of setting a viewership record, but it stands as the third most-watched program in U.S. television history.The Nielsen Co. said an estimated 108.4 million people watched the Baltimore Ravens' 34-31 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. The most-watched events in U.S. TV history were last year's game, seen by 111.3 million, and the 2010 game, with 111 million viewers.CBS had hoped to make it the fourth year in a row that football's ultimate game broke the record for most-watched event in American television history. But pro football ratings in general have been down slightly this year.CBS showcased its freshman drama, Elementary, to an estimated audience of 20.8 million people after the game. That was markedly down from the 37.6 million who watched The Voice on NBC after the 2011 game or the 26.8 million who saw Glee on Fox in 2010. CBS noted that the drama did not begin until 11:11 p.m. on the East Coast because of the Superdome power outage.CBS drew criticism from the Parents Television Council for not editing out a profanity said by Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco shortly after the game."No one should be surprised that a jubilant quarterback might use profane language while celebrating a career-defining win, but that is precisely the reason why CBS should have taken some precautions," said Tim Winter, president of the lobbying group, asking for the Federal Communications Commission to rebuke CBS.Beyonce to launch world tour in AprilBeyonce was just warming up at the Super Bowl: The singer has announced a world tour."The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour" will kick off April 15 in Belgrade, Serbia. The European leg of the tour will wrap up May 29 in Stockholm, Sweden.The tour's North American stint starts June 28 in Los Angeles and ends Aug. 3 in Brooklyn, N.Y., at the Barclays Center.She lands in Dalals July 6 at American Airlines Center, almost four years to the day after her last Dallas performance. Tickets -- which will set you back anywhere from $48.50 to $253.50 -- go on sale via Ticketmaster on Feb. 11.It was also announced Monday that a second wave of the tour is planned for Latin America, Australia and Asia later this year.Beyonce was the halftime performer at Sunday night's Super Bowl, where the Baltimore Ravens defeated the San Francisco 49ers. She performed a 13-minute set that included hits Crazy in Love, Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) and a Destiny's Child reunion.Robin Williams starsin television pilotRobin Williams, who once starred in Mork and Mindy on the small screen, may be moving back to TV.Entertainment Weekly reports that he is going to star in a new CBS comedy pilot from producer David E. Kelly (Boston Legal, Harry's Law) called Crazy Ones. It's a workplace comedy about a father and daughter in an advertising firm.CBS, along with all the other broadcast networks, will announce which pilots are going to get on the schedule at the New York upfronts in May.First photos of Shakira's babyShakira is sharing the first public photograph of her recently born baby, with father Gerard Pique planting a kiss on his infant son's cheek.The 36-year-old Colombian singer announced Monday on Twitter that the photo of "my two angels" could be seen on the website of UNICEF. She has urged people to donate to a baby shower on behalf of needy children helped by the U.N. children's agency.The photo shows Milan, who was born Jan. 22 in Barcelona, apparently sleeping in the arms of his father. The 25-year-old Pique is an FC Barcelona soccer star.Milan is the couple's first child.Shakira has previously asked fans to donate to UNICEF, helping to provide polio vaccinations and other aid. Compiled from wire, online and staff sourcesHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
