Big week! Most of the top few shows we've seen data for already. The week was of course led by Nickelodeon's iCarly: iFight Shelby Marx with nearly 7.9 million viewers. The summer/mid-season finale of Burn Notice was next with 7.59 million, followed by The Closer with 6.98 million and Royal Pains with 6.69 million.
The season premiere of the final season of Monk also made the top 20 (and the top 10) at number 6 with 5.14 million. Psych did not make the top 20, but by viewers it was tied for 25th with 3.979 million.
The impressive iCarly special only aired three times between Saturday and Sunday (the only days its aired so far that would be included for the week) and all three airings made the top 20. In addition to the top spot, it grabbed the 13th spot with 4.82 million and the 16th spot with 4.36 million. Additionally a 30 minute episode of iCarly that aired after the first airing of the special took the number 11 spot with 4.89 million. Pretty impressive.
A few notes:
1.) the numbers here are just basic cable. Mostly that's advertising supported basic cable, but Disney, which is included here, and is basic cable, isn't advertising supported. You might see notes from Nickelodeon that the iCarly special was the most-watched kids programming on advertising supported basic cable all year. That claim is, in fact, true. But Disney's Wizards On Deck with Hannah Montana was actually more-watched in its initial airing in July with 9.292 million -- but Disney isn't an advertising supported cable network.
2.) because these are just basic cable numbers, they do not include premium channels like HBO. So even if True Blood had more than 4.15 million viewers (it might have, the week before it had 4.3 million!) it wouldn't be in the table below. However, I will post True Blood's results from Sunday as soon as I see them.
3.) I have enough data to figure out who won all USA Network - related contests for Burn Notice's summer finale and the season premieres of Psych and Monk. However, not everyone followed the rules exactly and it will take me a while to announce all the contest winners, I hope to do so no later than tomorrow (Wednesday, August 12).
Top 20 basic cable network television shows for the week ending August 9, 2009:
| Rank | Shows | NET | DAY | Time | Viewers Live+SD (000) |
| 1 | iCarly MOVIE: SHELBY MARX | NICK | Sat | 08:00P-09:00P | 7,866 |
| 2 | BURN NOTICE | USA | Thu | 09:00P-10:00P | 7,594 |
| 3 | CLOSER, THE | TNT | Mon | 09:00P-10:00P | 6,976 |
| 4 | ROYAL PAINS | USA | Thu | 10:00P-11:00P | 6,686 |
| 5 | WWE ENTERTAINMENT | USA | Mon | 10:00P-11:09P | 5,197 |
| 6 | MONK | USA | Fri | 09:00P-10:00P | 5,137 |
| 7 | WWE ENTERTAINMENT | USA | Mon | 09:00P-10:00P | 5,015 |
| 8 | WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE | DSNY | Fri | 08:00P-08:30P | 5,004 |
| 9 | NCIS | USA | Thu | 08:00P-09:00P | 4,901 |
| 10 | SUITE LIFE ON DECK | DSNY | Fri | 08:30P-09:00P | 4,889 |
| 11 | ICARLY | NICK | Sat | 09:00P-09:30P | 4,866 |
| 12 | LAW & ORDER: CI (ORIG) | USA | Sun | 09:00P-10:00P | 4,826 |
| 13 | ICARLY MOVIE: SHELBY MARX | NICK | Sun | 11:00A-12:00P | 4,816 |
| 14 | RED SOX/YANKEES | ESPN | Sun | 08:00P-11:23P | 4,698 |
| 15 | IN PLAIN SIGHT | USA | Sun | 10:00P-11:00P | 4,436 |
| 16 | ICARLY MOVIE: SHELBY MARX | NICK | Sun | 07:00P-08:00P | 4,359 |
| 17 | SpongeBob | NICK | Mon | 12:00P-12:30P | 4,300 |
| 18 | NCIS | USA | Mon | 08:00P-09:00P | 4,264 |
| 19 | JON & Kate Plus 8 | TLC | Mon | 09:30P-10:00P | 4,169 |
| 20 | SpongeBob | NICK | Mon | 12:30P-01:00P | 4,146 |
Nielsen TV Ratings: ©2009 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved.
