DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES - HOUSEWIVES NO LONGER SO DESPERATE

The audience for ABC's Desperate Housewives appeared to be returning to the show Sunday after two weeks in which its ratings sank to their lowest levels ever. While Nielsen numbers for the show continued to come in below their previous highs, Sunday's edition was easily the top-rated show of the night, with 16.63 million viewers tuning in, resulting in a 10.8 rating and a 17 share. Analysts attributed the ratings boost to a general realization among viewers that new episodes are returning after the long hiatus that followed the writers' strike. ABC also saw its shows on each side of Housewives perform solidly as well. At 8:00 p.m., Extreme Makeover: Home Edition tied with CBS's Cold Case for the lead with a 7.4/13. And at 10:00 p.m., ABC's Brothers & Sisters far outdistanced the competition with a 7.5/13.

05/05/2008