Though American Idol still ruled at the top of the adults 18-49 charts, for the week ending May 23rd, Dancing with the Stars again narrowly edged Idol in total viewers. The series finale of Lost topped the season finale of Grey's Anatomy and was last week's most-watched scripted program with the ad-centric 18-49 demographic. NCIS was last week's most watched scripted show with total viewers.
Adults 18-49 viewing for the week ending May 23, 2010:
| Rank | Shows | R=Repeat S=Special P=Premiere | Net | 18-49 rating | 18-49 Viewers (000) |
| 1 | AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY | FOX | 6.7 | 8,800 | |
| 2 | AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY | FOX | 6.1 | 8,018 | |
| 3 | LOST: THE END(S) FINALE | S | ABC | 5.8 | 7,668 |
| 4 | BIG BANG THEORY, THE | CBS | 5.5 | 7,252 | |
| 5 | Grey'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM | ABC | 5.4 | 7,143 | |
| 6 | GLEE | FOX | 4.8 | 6,293 | |
| 7 | TWO AND A HALF MEN | CBS | 4.4 | 5,844 | |
| 8 | LOST - REGULAR TUESDAY Ep | ABC | 4.3 | 5,653 | |
| 9 | HOUSE | FOX | 4.3 | 5,636 | |
| 10 | MODERN FAMILY | ABC | 4.2 | 5,592 | |
| 11 | DANCING WITH THE STARS | ABC | 4.1 | 5,349 | |
| 12 | LOST: THE FINAL JOURNEY(S) PRE-FINALE SPECIAL | S | ABC | 4.1 | 5,331 |
| 13 | OFFICE | NBC | 3.4 | 4,514 | |
| 14 | Apprentice 9 | NBC | 3.4 | 4,485 | |
| 15 | CRIMINAL MINDS | CBS | 3.3 | 4,387 | |
| 16 | CSI | CBS | 3.3 | 4,306 | |
| 17 | NCIS | CBS | 3.3 | 4,299 | |
| 18 | Mentalist, THE | CBS | 3.2 | 4,208 | |
| 19 | FAMILY GUY | FOX | 3.1 | 4,140 | |
| 20 | BIGGEST LOSER 9 | NBC | 3.1 | 4,122 | |
| 21 | NCIS: LOS ANGELES | CBS | 3.1 | 4,096 | |
| 22 | HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER | CBS | 3.1 | 4,094 | |
| 23 | 24 | FOX | 2.9 | 3,881 | |
| 24 | CSI: MIAMI | CBS | 2.9 | 3,854 | |
| 25 | RULES OF ENGAGEMENT | CBS | 2.9 | 3,831 |
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Overall viewing (all ages 2+) for the week ending May 23, 2010:
| Rank | Shows | R=Repeat S=Special P=Premiere | Net | # Viewers (LIVE+SD) (000) | HH RATING (LIVE+SD) | HH SHARE (LIVE+SD) |
| 1 | DANCING WITH THE STARS | ABC | 19,044 | 12.1 | 19 | |
| 2 | AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY | FOX | 19,003 | 11.1 | 18 | |
| 3 | AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY | FOX | 18,684 | 10.5 | 17 | |
| 4 | NCIS | CBS | 15,964 | 9.9 | 16 | |
| 5 | NCIS: LOS ANGELES | CBS | 15,316 | 9.5 | 15 | |
| 6 | Grey'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM | ABC | 15,244 | 9.7 | 16 | |
| 7 | Mentalist, THE | CBS | 15,221 | 9.4 | 16 | |
| 8 | BIG BANG THEORY, THE | CBS | 15,020 | 8.9 | 14 | |
| 9 | CSI | CBS | 14,345 | 8.6 | 14 | |
| 10 | LOST: THE END(S) FINALE | S | ABC | 13,567 | 7.5 | 13 |
| 11 | TWO AND A HALF MEN | CBS | 13,279 | 8.1 | 13 | |
| 12 | CRIMINAL MINDS | CBS | 13,254 | 8.4 | 14 | |
| 13 | DANCING W/STARS RESULTS | ABC | 13,188 | 8.6 | 14 | |
| 14 | Good Wife, THE | CBS | 12,038 | 7.9 | 14 | |
| 15 | GLEE | FOX | 11,466 | 6.8 | 11 | |
| 16 | CSI: NY | CBS | 11,300 | 7.3 | 13 | |
| 17 | HOUSE | FOX | 11,064 | 6.5 | 11 | |
| 18 | CSI: MIAMI | CBS | 10,524 | 6.7 | 12 | |
| 19 | LOST - REGULAR TUESDAY EP | ABC | 10,467 | 6.1 | 10 | |
| 20 | BROOKS & DUNN: LAST RODEO(S) | S | CBS | 10,151 | 6.3 | 10 |
| 21 | MODERN FAMILY | ABC | 10,136 | 6.2 | 10 | |
| 22 | CASTLE | ABC | 10,074 | 6.5 | 11 | |
| 23 | LOST: THE FINAL JOURNEY(S) | S | ABC | 9,926 | 5.5 | 10 |
| 24 | 60 Minutes | CBS | 9,567 | 6.2 | 12 | |
| 25 | Apprentice 9 | NBC | 9,453 | 5.8 | 9 |
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Weekly cable show ratings and overnight broadcast show ratings are also available.
Nielsen Ratings Data: ©2010 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved. All ratings above Live+SD (live viewing plus same day DVR viewing)
| Rank | Shows | R=Repeat S=Special P=Premiere | Net | # Viewers (LIVE+SD) (000) | HH RATING (LIVE+SD) | HH SHARE (LIVE+SD) |
| 1 | DANCING WITH THE STARS | ABC | 19,044 | 12.1 | 19 | |
| 2 | AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY | FOX | 19,003 | 11.1 | 18 | |
| 3 | AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY | FOX | 18,684 | 10.5 | 17 | |
| 4 | NCIS | CBS | 15,964 | 9.9 | 16 | |
| 5 | NCIS: LOS ANGELES | CBS | 15,316 | 9.5 | 15 | |
| 6 | Grey'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM | ABC | 15,244 | 9.7 | 16 | |
| 7 | Mentalist, THE | CBS | 15,221 | 9.4 | 16 | |
| 8 | BIG BANG THEORY, THE | CBS | 15,020 | 8.9 | 14 | |
| 9 | CSI | CBS | 14,345 | 8.6 | 14 | |
| 10 | LOST: THE END(S) | S | ABC | 13,567 | 7.5 | 13 |
| 11 | TWO AND A HALF MEN | CBS | 13,279 | 8.1 | 13 | |
| 12 | CRIMINAL MINDS | CBS | 13,254 | 8.4 | 14 | |
| 13 | DANCING W/STARS RESULTS | ABC | 13,188 | 8.6 | 14 | |
| 14 | Good Wife, THE | CBS | 12,038 | 7.9 | 14 | |
| 15 | GLEE | FOX | 11,466 | 6.8 | 11 | |
| 16 | CSI: NY | CBS | 11,300 | 7.3 | 13 | |
| 17 | HOUSE | FOX | 11,064 | 6.5 | 11 | |
| 18 | CSI: MIAMI | CBS | 10,524 | 6.7 | 12 | |
| 19 | LOST | ABC | 10,467 | 6.1 | 10 | |
| 20 | BROOKS & DUNN: LAST RODEO(S) | S | CBS | 10,151 | 6.3 | 10 |
| 21 | MODERN FAMILY | ABC | 10,136 | 6.2 | 10 | |
| 22 | CASTLE | ABC | 10,074 | 6.5 | 11 | |
| 23 | LOST: THE FINAL JOURNEY(S) | S | ABC | 9,926 | 5.5 | 10 |
| 24 | 60 Minutes | CBS | 9,567 | 6.2 | 12 | |
| 25 | Apprentice 9 | NBC | 9,453 | 5.8 | 9 |
