2008 Super Bowl sets ratings record

New York – The 97.5 million viewers who saw the New York Giants’ last-minute win over the New England Patriots made it the most-watched Super Bowl ever and second biggest event in American television history.

Only the “MASH” series finale in 1983, with 106 million viewers, was seen by more people, Nielsen Media Research said Monday. Sunday’s game eclipsed the previous Super Bowl record of 94.08 million, set when Dallas defeated Pittsburgh in 1996.

This year’s game had almost all the ingredients Fox could have hoped for: a tight contest with a thrilling finish involving a team that was attempting to make history as the NFL’s first unbeaten team since 1972.

But the Giants ended New England’s bid for perfection, 17-14. Throughout the game, the teams were never separated by more than a touchdown.

The closeness of the game probably added a couple million viewers to the telecast’s average; the audience peaked at 105.7 million viewers between 8:30 and 9 p.m. CST – during the fourth quarter.

The 97.5 million figure represents the game’s average viewership during any given minute. Nielsen said that a total of 148.3 million watched at least some part of the game.

Stallone: Students rally around ‘Rambo’ tag line

Los Angeles – Sylvester Stallone says his latest “Rambo” film and its tag line are inspiring real-life opponents of Myanmar’s military rulers.

“Either live for something, die for nothing – it’s your choice,” the 61-year-old actor-director said Saturday in a phone call from Paris, where he is promoting the movie, the fourth in a series.

“Students have now used this film as a rallying point and are using the quote, thinking maybe the American military will intervene and save them,” he said.

“Rambo” has the disaffected Vietnam vet John Rambo trying to find missionaries captured by Myanmar soldiers, who are shown razing villages and killing civilians.

Myanmar’s military crushed pro-democracy protests led by students and Buddhist priests last year.

Stallone filmed “Rambo,” which has yet to be released in Asia, on a river bordering Myanmar and neighboring Thailand.

He issued a challenge to the ruling military.

“If they think this movie is a fantasy, I welcome the opportunity to let me come over there and walk around the country without armed guards following me every inch of the way,” he said.

Moore sends valentines to Save the Children

New York – Julianne Moore has a loving new way to help struggling kids in America: Send a valentine.

Just before Christmas, the 47-year-old actress read to elementary school students and met with parents in White Oak, Tenn., on behalf of Save the Children. The organization aims to improve children’s quality of life through literacy, physical activity and nutrition programs.

Afterward, Moore, a mother of two, was inspired to offer Valentine’s Day cards online in return for donations to Save the Children. The cards, featuring children’s artwork, can be printed or e-mailed, and are available through Feb. 14 on the charity’s Web site.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday, Moore said she hopes the initiative will catch on in schools where classmates exchange valentines.

“I know my kids are very service-oriented, and they’re very into the idea of charity – particularly when it comes to other kids,” she said of son Caleb, 9, and daughter Liv, 5.

“It’s just sort of a nice way to acknowledge kids who were struggling in America,” Moore said. “It’s like kids loving kids.”