So was Super Bowl XLI a behemoth in the ratings, as always?

Update, 3 p.m. ET:

In a word, yes. The game, became the most-watched program in U.S. TV history, drawing an average of 111.3 million, slightly eclipsing last year’s then-record 111 million.

The Super Bowl peaked with 117 million viewers in its final half-hour, while its first half hour (99 million) was its lowest.

Not only that, but Madonna’s now-controversial-thanks-to-M.I.A. halftime show averaged 114 million, which also marks the game’s most-watched halftime show. Last year’s Black-Eyed Peas show averaged 110.3 million.

Post-game, the season premiere of NBC’s The Voice sung to 37.6 million viewers, more that twice the show’s previous high, according to NBC said.

The Voice easily eclipsed Fox’s post-game Glee last year (26.8 million) but fell a million shy of CBS’ Undercover Boss debut in 2010 (38.7 million).

Among viewers ages 18 to 49 — advertisers’ sweet spot — the singing competition won 20.8 million viewers, marking the highest such rating for an entertainment series since a post-game Grey’s Anatomy in February 2006 and NBC’s top-rated entertainment telecast since the May 2004 Friends finale.

Source: USA Today