NBC - SHADES OF "MUST-SEE-TV" NIGHT!

SHADES OF "MUST-SEE-TV" NIGHT!

NBC was able to place a scripted show in the top ten last week, thanks to the two-hour finale of E.R. And while the episode drew the largest audience for any closer of a drama series since Murder She Wrote faded 13 years ago, the number of viewers amounted to fewer than half what the series drew in its heyday, when it was routinely rated No. 1. It went out in sixth place. As usual, Fox's American Idol took the top two spots on the Nielsen ratings list, followed by ABC's Dancing With the Stars. But CBS shows accounted for half of those in the top ten, and once again, the network averaged the most viewers for the week, 12.5 million (7.6 rating, 13 share), versus 9.7 million (5.7/9) for second-place Fox. (Although Fox, thanks to Idol , held a slight edge among viewers 18-49.) ABC placed third with 7.2 million viewers (4.6/6), while NBC, despite the E.R. win, remained in last place with 6.9 million viewers (4.5/7).

The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research 1. American Idol (Wednesday), Fox, 14.2/22; 2. American Idol (Tuesday), Fox, 13.7/21; 3. Dancing With the Stars (Monday), ABC, 12.9/20; 4. NCIS , CBS, 10.7/17; 5. The Mentalist , CBS, 10.5/16; 6. E.R ., NBC, 10.4/17; 7. CSI Crime Scene Investigation , CBS, 9.1/14; 8. Academy of Country Music Awards, CBS, 8.8/14; 9. Dancing With the Stars (Tuesday), ABC, 8.6/13; 10. NCAA Basketball Championship Tournament, CBS, 8.5/16; 10. (Tie) CSI Miami , CBS, 8.5/14; 10. (Tie) Two and a Half Men , CBS, 8.5/13.

08/04/2009