TV notes: Palin’s success helps ‘Dancing’ win audiences

More than 26 million viewers saw Jennifer Grey win the mirror-ball trophy on “Dancing With the Stars,” ABC says.

Tuesday’s two-hour finale averaged 24 million viewers, swelling to 26.4 million in its final half-hour. It trampled the competition, beating nearest rival CBS by nearly 4 million viewers.

The conclusion to the series’ 11th season scored the biggest audience for “Dancing” since 2007, ABC said Wednesday.

Attention on the show had soared with the continuing success of contestant Bristol Palin, who finished third.

Must hee-hee TV

In a break with tradition, NBC will schedule three hours of comedies on Thursday nights starting Jan. 20.

The new Thursday lineup will look like this: “Community” (8 p.m.), newcomer “Perfect Couples” (8:30), “The Office” (9), “Parks and Recreation” (9:30), “30 Rock” (10) and “Outsourced” (10:30).

“The Apprentice,” now airing at 10 p.m., will complete its run Dec. 9.

NBC describes “Perfect Couples” as “the misadventures” of three couples trying to find the “ideal relationship.” It stars Kyle Bornheimer (“Worst Week”) and Olivia Munn (“The Daily Show”).

In other programming changes, NBC said “The Event” will end its fall run Monday and won’t return until Feb. 28.

The new David E. Kelley legal drama “Harry’s Law” debuts Mondays at 10 starting Jan. 17, with “Parenthood” moving to that slot in March.

“Chase,” which had been airing on Mondays, moves to Wednesdays at 9 p.m. in January. “Law & Order: SVU” moves up to 10 p.m. on Wednesdays.