Weekly Ratings: 11/23 – 11/26

Sunday Ratings for American Music Awards, 24 and More

8 pm/ET
ABC's coverage of the 2008 American Music Awards topped the hour, dominated Sunday's demos and averaged 12.2 million total viewers for the night (a gain of 380 versus last year). Coming in No. 2 at 8 was 24: Redemption, which delivered 12.04 million heads over its two-hour run. That marks an 18-percent improvement over the Fox series' Day 6 finale, but down 23 percent from that season's opener. NBC's coverage of the Colts-Chargers game was the evening's most-watched program, averaging 12.29 million viewers. Facing stiff competition, Amazing Race (10.1 mil) slowed down 19 percent week-to-week.

9 pm
Cold Case placed third behind the AMAs and football with 12.07 million viewers, on par with its previous audience.

10 pm
The Unit inched up 200K to claim No. 3 with an audience of 9.99 million.

Monday Ratings: Another Biggest Bang, and Heroes Bounces Back

8 pm/ET
Dancing with the Stars averaged 21.33 million total viewers, a 13 percent increase over last season's final competition night, but down 14 percent from November 2007's big dance-off. Placing second, CBS' Big Bang Theory hit a new all-time high (10.19 million), while How I Met Your Mother delivered a season-best 10.04 mil. Chuck dipped 180 to claim third with 6.62 mil, and Sarah Connor dropped 680 thousand (to 4.62 mil).

9 pm
Two and a Half Men (14.9 million viewers) dropped 300K from last week's season high, while lead-out Worst Week held steady at 10.35 mil. Winning the back half of the hour, Samantha Who? surged 810K to 11.93 mil. With an audience of 7.85 mil, Heroes enjoyed its first week-to-week increase (+260K) since Oct. 13. Prison Break (5.25 mil, down 11 percent) and One Tree Hill (2.21 mil, down 19 percent), despite combining to drop a plethora of bombshells, both took dives.

10 pm
CSI: Miami topped the hour with 14.15 million viewers, down eight percent from last week's mighty audience. Both Boston Legal (8.68 mil) and My Own Worst Enemy (4.25 mil) saw gains of 250K.

Tuesday Ratings: How Many Did House Hold Captive?

8 pm/ET
NCIS continued its super-strong season, delivering 18.16 million total viewers (up 160K week-to-week). Topping the hour in demos and placing second in viewers was House's hostage episode, which drew 12.5 mil. (What did you think of the "super-sized" 67-minute saga? Vote in our poll/discuss below.) A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (11.1 mil) was up eight percent year-over-year, while Biggest Loser (6.77 mil) shed 10 percent from last Tuesday.

9 pm
Dancing with the Stars' season-ender partnered with an audience of 20.58 million, a small increase over the May finale but down 17 percent from last November's. At 15.9 mil, The Mentalist was up a hair. Fringe (8.73 mil) fell 630K.

10 pm
Opposite DWTS' final moments, both Without a Trace (10.37 million viewers, down 12 percent) and SVU (8.55 mil, down 15 percent) took big hits.

Wednesday Ratings: Rosie's Special… Is Not So Special

8 pm/ET
Bones topped the hour with 9.76 million total viewers (down nine percent week-to-week). Placing second, Old Christine (7.6 mil) and Gary Unmarried (7.72 mil) each dipped about 500 thousand. Rosie O'Donnell's variety special — which by several accounts was disappointing/excruciating — drummed up just 5.04 mil, effectively giving Ro's arch rival, Barbara Walters, bragging rights for the night (see: 10 pm). It also goes to prove that little good ever came from trumpeting, "Ladies and gentleman, Gloria Estefan... and Rachael Ray!" Pushing Daisies dropped another eight percent, to hit 4.45 mil.

9 pm
Criminal Minds (14 million viewers) and Private Practice (6.22 mil, and yes, Grant Show will be back) each fell 13 percent.

10 pm
CSI: NY (12.16 mil) edged out Barbara Walters' non-dirty, non-sexy sit-down with the Obamas (11.65 mil). Law & Order was a distant third, with 6.26 mil.

There will be no ratings report for Thursday night. Many apologies to those who woke up this morning anxious to know if Click beat this week's second broadcast of A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.