More than 52 million fans were there for "Friends" on Thursday as the veteran NBC/Warner Bros. Television sitcom bowed out after 10 seasons. The hourlong finale, which ran from 9:06-10:06 p.m,. brought in an average of 52.3 million viewers and 24.9 rating/54 share in the adults 18-49 demographic, according to preliminary estimates from Nielsen Media Research. The hourlong clip show retrospective that aired at 8 p.m. averaged 35.9 million viewers and 16.2/43 in adults 18-49. At 10 p.m., "ER" capped the night for the peacock with a healthy 32.2 million viewers and 15.6/37 in the adults 18-49 demo. The "Friends" finale generated more hoopla during the past two weeks for any television show since the farewell of NBC's "Seinfeld" six years ago, but the turnout was well short of that sitcom's 1998 closer, which averaged 76.2 million. The 1983 signoff of CBS' "M*A*S*H" remains the standard bearer with an average of 105 million viewers. NBC's "Cheers" exited in 1993 after 11 seasons with 80.3 million viewers.