'Brotherhood' also sets series highs

Showtime doesn't usually announce specific audience figures, but the premium cable network is kvelling over the latest numbers for "Dexter."

According to media reports, "Dexter" drew 1.23 million viewers for its 9 p.m. episode airing on Sunday (Nov. 18), making it the most-watched single airing audience ever for a Showtime series.

The previous record was held by "Soul Food," which had drawn 1.21 million for a 2004 telecast.

If you include the show's 11 p.m. encore, "Dexter" drew 1.63 million viewers on Sunday, an impressive number given that the network's subscriber base is roughly 14 million.

An estimated 651,000 viewers stuck around after "Dexter" for "Brotherhood," which is either a massive audience drop or the Rhode Island drama's largest audience ever, depending on how you look at it.

The "Dexter" and "Brotherhood" audiences were up 41 percent and 47 percent over last week's figures.