

It looks as if NBC's long ratings nightmare may be over.

NBC Entertainment Chairman Bob Greenblatt is poised to end his first full TV season on the job with the network No. 3 in the key demographic of adults aged 18 to 49, according to Nielsen. The last night of the 2011-12 season is Wednesday.

That would be the first time that NBC has avoided a last-place finish for a TV season since 2004. In other words, many eons ago in the world of TV.

NBC looks set to earn a 2.5 rating in 18-49 for prime time, compared to a 2.4 for ABC. Fox, meanwhile, will finish first, with CBS No. 2. Among all viewers, CBS will win for the ninth time in 10 years.

However, there is a small asterisk to NBC's creep past ABC. The Super Bowl, which set ratings records in February, is really what made the difference. Without it, NBC would be on track for a 2.3 rating -- and thus would have been in the dog house yet again. Most of Greenblatt's scripted series this season, it should be noted, quickly tanked.

But as in politics and in sports, glory goes to the person who happens to be sitting in the executive chair when it arrives. And that means Greenblatt can chalk this one up in his "save" column.

What do you think of NBC and its performance this year? Any favorite shows?

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-- Scott Collins (twitter.com/scottcollinsLAT)

Photo: Bob Greenblatt looks likely to break NBC's eight-year losing streak in the prime time TV ratings. Credit: Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times.