The Nielsen Rating's Top 20 TV Shows for May 17 - May 23. The first number is the ranking, the second number is the season average, then the show name and network. The last number represents the number of viewers in millions. An asterisk * indicates a tie.The last of LOST made it into the Nielsen Rating's Top 10. American Idol and Dancing with the Stars tied for #1.
| Rank | Show name | Network | Viewers in millions | Season-to-date average (in millions) |
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| 1. | American Idol (Tues.) | Fox | 19.0 | 23.4 |
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| * | Dancing with the Stars | ABC | 19.0 | 19.7 |
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| 3. | American Idol (Tues) | Fox | 18.7 | 24.9 |
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| 4. | NCIS | CBS | 16.0 | 18.8 |
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| 5. | NCIS: Los Angeles | CBS | 15.3 | 15.7 |
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| 6. | Grey's Anatomy | ABC | 15.2 | 13.6 |
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| * | The Mentalist | CBS | 15.2 | 16.8 |
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| 8. | The Big Bang Theory | CBS | 15.0 | 14.2 |
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| 9. | CSI | CBS | 14.3 | 15.8 |
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| 10. | Lost: The End | ABC | 13.6 | -- |
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| 11. | Criminal Minds | CBS | 13.3 | 13.6 |
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| * | Two and a Half Men | CBS | 13.3 | 14.6 |
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| 13. | Dancing with the Stars Results | ABC | 13.2 | 15.0 |
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| 14. | The Good Wife | CBS | 12.0 | 12.8 |
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| 15. | Glee | Fox | 11.5 | 9.6 |
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| 16. | CSI: NY | CBS | 11.3 | 12.3 |
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| 17. | House | Fox | 11.1 | 12.6 |
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| 18. | CSI: Miami | CBS | 10.5 | 12.6 |
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| * | Lost | ABC | 10.5 | 11.6 |
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| 20. | Brooks & Dunn: Last Rodeo | CBS | 10.2 | -- |
