Reopening the psychic scars caused each time their parents skipped a drama banquet in order to attend a sibling’s sporting event, the honorees of the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards proved to be America’s second-favorite children last night, losing the love and affection (but none of the Twitter-based consternation) of viewers wrapped up in the Baltimore Ravens-New England Patriots game. (Also Damon Wayans Jr. and James Van Der Beek, because, LOL, men be checkin’ NFL scores.) According to TV By The Numbers, ABC reports that an average of 13.2 million viewers tuned in for the awards ceremony, good for a 3.8 rating in the 18-49 demographic—scoring more overall viewers, but fewer in the almighty demo, than last year’s Emmys. By contrast, 19.82 million people went with the competition whose winners weren’t predetermined—though many were caught off guard to see Modern Family’s Julie Bowen posting six catches for 127 yards and two touchdowns.
Of course, due to the live, coast-to-coast nature of these broadcasts, these numbers remain imprecise—or at least that’s what the cast of Homeland will tell itself when its Best Drama Series statuette is inevitably bumped off the living-room mantel in favor of the Vince Lombardi Trophy in February.