CBC scored decent numbers with its MOW biopics on Shania Twain and Walter Gretzky and with the return of Rick Mercer, perhaps signaling a turnaround in its post-lockout ratings.

Shania: A Life in Eight Albums did especially well, garnering nearly 1.2 million viewers when it aired on Monday, Nov. 7 against heavy-hitting competitors including CTV’s Corner Gas and Degrassi: The Next Generation, and Global’s Prison Break. The night before, CBC aired Waking Up Wally, starring Tom McCamus (Century Hotel) as The Great One’s dad, to 767,000 – better than its disappointing Trudeau II and all-but-unwatched Il Duce Canadese, but perhaps on the low side considering the net’s great deal of hockey-related hype. Wally was poorly positioned against CTV juggernaut Desperate Housewives.

Earlier this month, CBC programming boss Richard Stursberg predicted that ratings were set for a rebound.

CBC also ran the season premiere of its satirical news show The Rick Mercer Report on Tuesday, Nov. 8 at 8 p.m. and received about 748,000 viewers. Formerly Rick Mercer’s Monday Report, the first season averaged 786,000.

Both CBC and CTV have football-related programming slated for November. CTV’s MOW The Man Who Lost Himself, about ex-CFL star Terry Evanshen, who lost his memory, was to air on Nov. 15, with CTV’s sporty sister TSN handling a Nov. 24 replay. CBC will air the CFL’s 93rd Grey Cup game from Vancouver on Nov. 27, with U.S. hip-hop act Black Eyed Peas performing at halftime.