Excluding a first-place finish for CBS in households, games three through five of Los Angeles vs. Orlando on The NBA Finals led ABC to victory in total viewers and the three key demos (adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and adults 18-34) for this third week of the summer season. Comparably, ABC posted single-digit growth from one year earlier, with its top-rated summer week in total viewers and adults 18-49 in five years.
Conan O’Brien’s premiere as host of NBC’s “Tonight Show” drew the highest overnight ratings for a Monday episode in four years.
Launching his “Tonight Show” run, the late-night comedian posted a number 82% higher than the “Tonight” second quarter average and 173% above his February “Late Night” finale.
Although the “American Idol” finale drew its smallest audience since 2004, its viewership continued to significantly surpass its competition last week.
An average audience of 28.84 million saw Kris Allen be named as champion last Wednesday, 9 percent less than the 31.66 million that watched last year when David Cook won the singing competition.
A night of new drama guaranteed CBS the top spot on Friday, averaging a 5.8 rating/11 share for the night, just ahead of NBC’s 5.6/10. ABC came in a distant third with a 3.8/7, followed by The CWs 2.9/5 and FOXs 2.4/5.
CBS also won the 18-to-49 demo race with a 2.4/8, followed by NBCs 2.2/7, The CWs 1.6/6, ABCs 1.5/5 and FOXs 1.1/4.
The resolution of a CSI cliffhanger propelled CBS to a ratings win Thursday, beating out Greys Anatomy and ABC.
For the night, CBS averaged an 11.3 rating/18 share to top ABC’s 9.4/15 (the two were separate by about 4 million viewers). NBC came in third with a 5.7/9. FOX, 4.2/7, finished fourth, while The CW drew a 2.4/4.
ABC won Wednesday’s ratings title, while Private Practice and NBCs Bionic Woman kicked off what could be a very competitive battle with strong premieres.
For the night, ABC averaged a 9.4 rating/15 share, topping second-place CBS, 7.0/11, by a comfortable margin. NBC was close behind in third at 6.8/11. FOX, 3.8/6, finished fourth, and The CW posted a 2.4/4 for fifth.
After a near-summerlong hiatus from the top of the ratings heap, ABC waltzed back to the lead with the return of *Dancing With the Stars,* while NBC’s *Heroes* came back to win in adults 18-49.
The ratings winners of the night were ABCs lineup and NBCs *Heroes,* but the same could not be said for the premieres of *Chuck* and especially *Journeyman.* CBS saw several shows drop, including a record low adults 18-49 rating for *CSI: Miami,* while *The Big Bang Theory* opened OK, according to preliminary data released Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research.
•Emmys sink. Fox’s 59th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday averaged 13 million viewers, the second-worst ever behind 1990’s 12.3 million.
Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance,” which just wrapped up its third installment, might be the best competition show on prime-time television. On what other program are viewers treated to a pool of talented contestants working as hard as they can on a beautiful art form, knowledgeable and caring judges, and noteworthy performances each and every week?
A ventriloquist and exhibition football helped NBC snap Fox’s 28-week winning streak among youthful viewers.
Nearly 14 million people watched ventriloquist Terry Fator win America’s Got Talent, making it the week’s most-watched show. It was the strongest performance of the summer for the American Idol look-alike.