‘MILLION Dollar Baby” was no “The Lord of the Rings.”

This year’s Oscar telecast – despite a lot of popular interest in a new, controversial host, Chris Rock – was down 2 million from last year’s show when “The Lord of the Rings” ruled.

More than 41 million viewers tuned in Sunday to watch all or part of the ceremony, according to Nielsen Media. ABC had hoped for better – especially after preliminary figures released earlier yesterday indicated that the awards show may be the strongest in five years. But when all the numbers came in, lower viewership in rural areas of the country dragged down the averages.

Rock said backstage after the Oscars that he hoped to do it again, although “who knows if they would want me again.”