AMERICAN IDOL - FALLEN IDOL STILL ON TOP

Even though it drew its lowest ratings in five years, last Tuesday night's American Idol still was the second-most watched show of the week last week, beaten only by the Wednesday-night edition of Idol, which drew its lowest numbers in three years. For a May sweeps week, it might as well have been June. Except for the two Idol shows, none had enough appeal to draw more than 20 million viewers. (There was a time when all of the top-ten shows during a sweeps week routinely attracted 20 million viewers or more.) CBS remained the nation's most-watched network again last week, averaging a 6.7 rating and an 11 share (or about 10.6 million viewers). ABC placed second with a 6.2/11. Fox followed with a 5.5/9 (although it continued to top the list among adults 18-49); NBC remained last among the major networks with a 4.0/7.

The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research:
1. American Idol (Wednesday), Fox, 13.9/21; 2. American Idol (Tuesday), Fox, 12.6/20; 3. Dancing With the Stars (Tuesday), ABC, 12.0/18; 4. Dancing With the Stars (Monday), ABC, 11.7/19; 5. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS, 11.4/17; 6. Grey's Anatomy, ABC, 10.5/16; 7. Without a Trace, CBS, 9.8/16; 8. Desperate Housewives, ABC, 9.7/15; 9. CSI: Miami, CBS, 9.5/16; 10. NCIS, CBS, 8.9/14.

14/05/2008