NBC’s “MTP” just barely held on to its tiara Sunday Dec. 20, 2009… but it wasn’t ABC’s George Stephanopolous creeping into NBC territory. In hot pursuit of the first place spot, CBS’ Bob Schieffer and “Face the Nation” managed to take second in both key demo and total viewers. ABC’s “This Week” (rescheduled in Boston) got bumped to third across the board. Ratings for Sunday 12.20.09:

TOTAL VIEWERS

NBC “MEET THE PRESS” 3,080,000
CBS “FACE THE NATION” 2,950,000
ABC “THIS WEEK” 2,790,000
FOX “FOX NEWS SUNDAY” 1,360,000

A25-54 MM/Rtg

NBC “MEET THE PRESS” 1,010,000/.8
CBS “FACE THE NATION” 940,000/.8
ABC “THIS WEEK” 860,000/.7
FOX “FOX NEWS SUNDAY” 500,000/.4