AMERICAN IDOL - WINNING BIG TIME

The big winners in the Nielsen ratings race last week were not just big, they were enormous. Fox's American Idol, which placed first and second in the top-ten list, attracted 31.2 million viewers on Tuesday and 28.89 million on Wednesday. Fox's House, which placed third, drew 25.99 million viewers, just edging out ABC's Grey's Anatomy, which recorded 25.76 million. CBS's CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, which airs opposite Grey's, posted 22.71 million, while its sibling, CSI: Miami pulled in $19.9 million. Each of the remaining top-ten finishers drew more than 16 million viewers. CBS remained ahead among overall households for the week averaging 12.3 million viewers (7.8 rating/13 share). Fox placed a close second with 12.2 million viewers (7.2/11) ABC came in third with 9.6 million (6.1/10), while NBC trailed with 8.6 million (5.6/9).

The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research:
1. American Idol (Tuesday), Fox, 17.4/24; 2. American Idol (Wednesday), Fox, 16.2/23; 3. Grey's Anatomy, ABC, 16.0/23; 4. House, Fox, 14.8/22; 5. CSI Crime Scene Investigation, CBS, 13.8/20; 6. CSI: Miami, CBS, 12.7/21; 7. Desperate Housewives, ABC, 11.7/18; 8. Deal or No Deal (Monday), NBC, 10.0/18; 8. (Tie) Two and a Half Men, CBS, 10.0/18; 10. Shark, CBS, 9.8/16.

22/02/2007