ABC's DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES Goes Out on Ratings High

ABC (9.49 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.8, #1) was the network to beat on Sunday with its mix of a new "America's Funniest Home Videos" (6.31 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.6, #11), the season finale of "Once Upon a Time" (9.45 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.2, #T1) and the two-hour series finale of DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (11.10 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.2, #T1).

Here are the other highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

CBS (9.43 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.3, #2) then claimed the silver with its combination of "60 Minutes" (9.21 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #13) - tied as its season low, the "Survivor: One World" (10.22 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #3) finale - its lowest-rated ever, "Survivor: One World Reunion" (7.19 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.1, #6) and the "Survivor: One World Overrun/Survivor: One World Reunion" (8.94 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.7, #4) - its lowest-rated reunion show ever.

Next up was FOX (3.60 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.7, #3) with a repeat of "The Simpsons" (2.12 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.9, #15) followed by repeats of "The Cleveland Show" (2.79 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.3, #12), "The Simpsons" (4.00 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.9, #8), "Bob's Burgers" (3.63 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T9), "Family Guy" (4.94 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.3, #5) and "American Dad" (4.12 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.0, #7).

And finally, new episodes of "Dateline NBC" (3.62 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.8, #16), "Harry's Law" (7.61 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.0, #14) and "The Celebrity Apprentice" (5.40 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T9) closed out the night on NBC (5.51 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #4) - tied as its series low for celebrity editions.

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (5/15/11):

CBS (12.38 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.3, #1) took home top honors on Sunday thanks to the special two-hour season finale of "Survivor: Redemption Island" (13.10 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.0, #1). Bookending the broadcast were a new "60 Minutes" (12.03 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T11) and the "Survivor: Redemption Island Reunion" (11.28 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.5, #2).

ABC (8.94 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.5, #2) then snagged second place with a new "America's Funniest Home Videos" (7.24 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.8, #10) followed by the season finales of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (8.54 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.1, #9) and "Desperate Housewives" (9.99 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.0, #4).

Next up was FOX (4.86 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.1, #3) with its mix of "The Simpsons" (3.14 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.3, #13), "American Dad" (3.89 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T11), "The Simpsons" (6.00 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.5, #5), "Bob's Burgers" (4.66 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.2, #8), "Family Guy" (6.55 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.3, #3) and the season finale of "The Cleveland Show" (4.93 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.3, #7).

And finally, fresh installments of "Dateline NBC" (5.24 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.1, #14), "Minute to Win It" (3.47 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.0, #15) and "The Celebrity Apprentice" (6.57 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.4, #6) on NBC (5.46 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.7, #4) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Dateline NBC (37.50%), American Dad (13.30%), Bob's Burgers (10.00%), Desperate Housewives (7.10%), America's Funniest Home Videos (5.90%), The Cleveland Show (4.50%), Family Guy (3.10%), The Simpsons (0.00%), The Celebrity Apprentice (0.00%), Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (0.00%), 60 Minutes (-26.10%).

Source: Nielsen Media Research

Photo credit: Ron Tom/ABC