Like it did in the Season Average Top 20 Adults 18-49 list , American Idol placed #1 and #2 for the 2008-9 broadcast prime-time season in terms of average viewership (of persons 2 and older). This numbers in this list don't mean much to the revenue of the networks, but it's quite useful for bragging rights!
First thing that jumps right out as you compare it with the 18-49 demo top 20 is the 12 CBS shows and the 1 NBC show. CBS sure can pack 'em in, even if they don't help the income line. No wonder they won the season title for average audience. ABC has 4 shows and Fox has 3 of the top 20.
Only one football show in this list (NBC Sunday Night Football) vs. 3 in the 18-49 demo list.
Where the adults 18-49 final top 20 had 11 unscripted shows, this one contains only 8 (the "missing" ones being The OT, Sunday Night Pre Kick and Biggest Loser)
Compare this season's top 20 to last season's (2007-8) top 20. Remember the WGA strike hammered most scripted shows.
Top 20 Shows For Average Viewership, 2008-9 Broadcast Prime-Time Season
| Rank | Programs | Network | STD Viewers Live+SD (000) | HH rating |
| 1 | American Idol-WEDNESDAY | FOX | 25,527 | 8.8 |
| 2 | American Idol-TUESDAY | FOX | 24,741 | 8.5 |
| 3 | Dancing with the Stars | ABC | 19,766 | 6.8 |
| 4 | CSI | CBS | 17,431 | 6.0 |
| 5 | NBC Sunday Night Football | NBC | 16,835 | 5.8 |
| 6 | NCIS | CBS | 16,800 | 5.8 |
| 7 | DANCING W/STARS RESULTS | ABC | 16,313 | 5.6 |
| 8 | Mentalist, THE | CBS | 16,288 | 5.6 |
| 9 | Desperate Housewives | ABC | 14,439 | 5.0 |
| 10 | 60 Minutes | CBS | 14,143 | 4.9 |
| 11 | Two and a Half Men | CBS | 14,111 | 4.9 |
| 12 | Criminal Minds | CBS | 13,714 | 4.7 |
| 13 | CSI: MIAMI | CBS | 13,171 | 4.5 |
| 14 | SURVIVOR: GABON | CBS | 12,914 | 4.5 |
| 15 | Grey'S ANATOMY | ABC | 12,885 | 4.4 |
| 16 | CSI: NY | CBS | 12,531 | 4.3 |
| 17 | SURVIVOR: TOCANTINS | CBS | 12,104 | 4.2 |
| 18 | WITHOUT A TRACE | CBS | 12,047 | 4.2 |
| 19 | HOUSE | FOX | 12,001 | 4.1 |
| 20 | COLD CASE | CBS | 11,606 | 4.0 |
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Nielsen TV Ratings: ©2009 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved.
