If you count WWE Raw as a sport, sports dominated the top ten with only iCarly at #10 breaking up the sports-streak. Seven NBA playoff games made the top ten. Game #7 of the Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics where the Magic from Orlando won the decisive game seven on Boston's home court was the most watched program on cable for the week with 8.382 million viewers.
In Plain Sight was back in the top 20 (#12) with 3.948 million average viewers and its lead-in, Law & Order: Criminal Intent was #19 with 3.709 million.
Top twenty cable network television shows for the week ending May 17, 2009:
| Rank | Shows | NET | DAY | Time | Viewers Live+SD (000) |
| 1 | MAGIC/CELTICS | TNT | Sun | 08:07P-10:46P | 8,382 |
| 2 | LAKERS/ROCKETS | ESPN | Thu | 09:51P-12:35A | 7,352 |
| 3 | MAGIC/CELTICS | TNT | Tue | 08:00P-10:45P | 5,233 |
| 4 | ROCKETS/LAKERS | TNT | Tue | 10:45P-01:20A | 5,187 |
| 5 | WWE ENTERTAINMENT | USA | Mon | 10:00P-11:03P | 4,940 |
| 6 | NUGGETS/MAVERICKS | TNT | Mon | 09:53P-12:53A | 4,837 |
| 7 | CELTICS/MAGIC | ESPN | Thu | 07:00P-09:51P | 4,795 |
| 8 | MAVERICKS/NUGGETS | TNT | Wed | 09:09P-11:54P | 4,574 |
| 9 | WWE ENTERTAINMENT | USA | Mon | 09:00P-10:00P | 4,415 |
| 10 | iCarly | NICK | Sat | 08:00P-08:30P | 4,319 |
| 11 | NASCAR SPRINT CUP RACING | SPD | Sat | 07:00P-11:20P | 4,174 |
| 12 | IN PLAIN SIGHT | USA | Sun | 10:00P-11:00P | 3,948 |
| 13 | CAVALIERS/HAWKS | TNT | Mon | 07:00P-09:53P | 3,943 |
| 14 | iCarly MOVIE:DATEABADBOY | NICK | Wed | 06:00P-07:00P | 3,891 |
| 15 | PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR | NICK | Sat | 10:00A-10:30A | 3,866 |
| 16 | TRUE JACKSON, VP | NICK | Sat | 08:30P-09:00P | 3,864 |
| 17 | PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR | NICK | Sun | 10:00A-10:30A | 3,820 |
| 18 | SpongeBob | NICK | Sat | 09:30A-10:00A | 3,789 |
| 19 | LAW & ORDER: CI (ORIG) | USA | Sun | 09:00P-10:00P | 3,709 |
| 20 | NCIS | USA | Mon | 07:00P-08:00P | 3,646 |
| Other shows (not ranked) | |||||
| SONNY WITH A CHANCE | DSNY | Sun | 08:30P-09:00P | 3,469 | |
| HANNAH MONTANA | DSNY | Sun | 07:30P-08:00P | 3,361 | |
| JONAS | DSNY | Sun | 08:00P-08:30P | 3,356 | |
| BACK AT THE BARNYARD | NICK | Sat | 10:30A-11:00A | 3,307 | |
| DANE COOK:ISOLATED | CMDY | Sun | 10:00P-11:00P | 3,169 | |
| DEADLIEST CATCH | DISC | Tue | 09:00P-10:01P | 2,930 | |
| HILLS, THE | MTV | Mon | 10:00P-10:30P | 2,412 | |
| REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NYC | BRAV | Tue | 10:00P-11:00P | 2,285 | |
| REAL HSWIVES OF NJ | BRAV | Tue | 11:00P-12:00A | 1,715 | |
| Mythbusters | DISC | Wed | 09:00P-10:00P | 1,688 | |
| GREEK | FAM | Mon | 08:00P-09:00P | 748 | |
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Nielsen Ratings Data: ©2009 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved
