AMERICAN IDOL - IDOL TOPS, BUT CBS WINS OVERALL

IDOL TOPS, BUT CBS WINS OVERALL

Fox may have scored the top two spots in the ratings with its unstoppable American Idol last week, but CBS continued to produce the most appealing shows overall -- including its telecast of the 51st edition of the Grammy awards, which averaged 19.1 million viewers on Sunday night. Old mainstays like 60 Minutes, Two and a Half Men, NCIS, and CSI Miami , also placed high in the ratings -- as did a rerun of its new hit, The Mentalist. Meanwhile, NBC seemed to benefit little from all of the promos it aired for its programs during last week's Super Bowl telecast -- which, on its own, lifted the network to No. 1 in the rankings. It was back to last place, without a single show in the top 10.

The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research 1. American Idol (Wednesday), Fox, 14.8/23; 2. American Idol (Tuesday), Fox, 14.7/22; 3. Grammy Awards , CBS, 11.2/18; 4. 60 Minutes, CBS, 10.4/17; 5. CSI Miami , CBS, 10.2/17; 6. Two and a Half Men , CBS, 10/15; 7. Grey's Anatomy , ABC, 9.8/15; 8. The Mentalist, CBS, 9/14; 9. House , Fox, 8.8/13; 10. Desperate Housewives , ABC, 8.6/13; 10. (Tie) NCIS, CBS, 8.6/13.

11/02/2009