Final performances lead FOX over ABC, 'Dancing' finale

Fast National ratings for Tuesday, May 20, 2008

David and David traded musical punches on Tuesday's "American Idol," and FOX scored a unanimous ratings decision.

FOX's household numbers -- 10.9 rating/17 share -- were only a little better than ABC's 10.6/17. However, FOX had about 3 million more viewers (19.34 million to 16.26 million for ABC). CBS finished a solid third at 9.2/14. NBC was well off the pace at 3.0/5, and The CW drew a 1.4/2.

In the adults 18-49 demographic, FOX's 7.6 rating easily topped ABC's 4.1 for the lead. CBS, 3.1, came in third. NBC averaged 1.6 and The CW 1.0.

The David Archuleta-David Cook duel on "American Idol" scored a 14.8/23 for FOX at 8 p.m. "NCIS" drew a 9.5/15 for CBS. A repeat of Monday's "Dancing with the Stars," 6.0/10, put ABC in third. "Most Outrageous Moments" earned a 2.5/4 for NBC, which was good enough to beat a "Reaper" encore on The CW.

The "Dancing with the Stars" finale, 12.3/18, moved ABC into the overall lead at 9 p.m. A second hour of "NCIS" improved to 11.0/17 on CBS. FOX dropped to third overall with "Hell's Kitchen," 7.1/11, but kept the adults 18-49 lead. A "Law & Order: SVU" rerun kept NBC in fourth. The season finale of "Reaper" posted a 1.7/3 for The CW.

"Dancing with the Stars" rose to 13.5/22 at 10 p.m. CBS' "Shark" finale, 7.1/11, beat out a second "SVU" rerun, 4.0/6, for second.

Ratings information is taken from fast national data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change.