The 2012 Miss America Pageant received its highest ratings in eight years Saturday. The ABC broadcast of the pageant was the number one non-sports network program Saturday from 9-11 p.m. 

The viewing audience increased 47 percent, 2.8 million viewers from the time the pageant began at 9 p.m. through the first half hour. During the final half hour, 10:30-11 p.m., the telecast totaled 8.0 million viewers and earned a 2.2 rating. Aside from the 2011 New Year's Even programming, ABC scored the pageant as the best non-sports Adult 18-49 rating in the time the pageant aired since December 2010.

Although the pageant aired at the same time as an NFL playoff game, The Miss America Pageant increased its overall audience in adults 18-49 more than 13 percent from last year's broadcast. The 2012 pageant scores were the best it has received since 2004. 

Source: MAO

Today, fourpoints sat down with producer Tony Eaton to talk about what we can expect from the 2012 telecast!

Are there any changes to the telecast this year? Is it important to make changes to the show every year?

Well, the girls change every year. This year they are a really bright group and they are all dedicated to making this telecast a 21st century production.

Can you tell us what kind of changes we can expect?

 Well, yes and no. I can say that the opening number is different. We shot six different locations in Las Vegas: La Reve, Hoover Damn, Ghost Bar, Fremont Street, Bellagio, Cosmopolitan, and the Wynn. Las Vegas is a photogenic and colorful city.

Are there any surprises during the telecast?

There is one element of the show that is truly live television. It will unfold for everyone at the same time. I hope it works out.

What kind of manpower goes into this telecast?

We have a 6 month start time. We have 50 stage crew members, 60 tv crew members, 13 cameras, tons of trucks plus 100 MAO volunteers behind the scenes.

The final night of preliminary competition in the 2012 Miss America pageant was hosted by Dena Blizzard. The Mu, Alpha, and Sigma groups competed in their final phases of the pageant.

Miss Hawaii Lauren Cheape received a $2,000 scholarship from Amway for her energetic jump rope routine.

Miss New York Kaitlin Monte received a $1,000 scholarship from Amway in the lifestye and fitness in swimsuit competition.

Congratulations!

Meet the 7 people who will choose our next Miss America!

Wednesday, December 7 in the 8 a.m. ET hour*

Tune in tomorrow, December 7, to hear the LIVE announcement of the national judges selected for the 2012 Miss America Pageant on ABC’s Good Morning America during the Pop News segment, in the 8 a.m. ET* hour.

* Please check your local listings

Miss South Carolina 2011 Bree Boyce, will be interviewed TONIGHT,  July 13, 2011 on CBS' The Insider at 7:30 p.m. ET*. TOMORROW, July 14,  she will be featured on The Joy Behar Show at 10 p.m. ET* on HLN.   FRIDAY, July 15, Bree will be co-hosting ABC's The View at 11 a.m. ET*.  She is also slated to be on EXTRA sometime this week, so stay tuned!

Bree will be interviewed about her platform, Eating Healthy and Fighting Obesity, which was inspired from her personal experience with weight loss. Tune in to hear her remarkable story and her personal journey to the 2012 Miss America Pageant

The 2012 Miss America Pageant will be hosted by Planet Hollywood Casino & Resort