Although I'm suprised that some shows AREN'T on the list, American Idol being the top one doesn't suprise me. For one thing, I kind of cheat because I subscribe to Ent. Weekly & Idol is always #1 on the list when the show is on, with the rare exception of a hot team playing Sunday Night Football. But the other reason it isn't suprising is because some people I know, who you'd think would be the most unlikely Idol viewers, are hardcore fans. My theory is that it's because it's the type of show where you really don't have to invest yourself to enjoy it. You can do other things while it's on, there's no story to follow & have to pay attention to, like you would on, say one of my favorites, Criminal Minds ( or Numbers, etc.). You don't like a singer, you tune out for a few minutes. I actually watched 1 season, for the most part, when Carrie Underwood was on, just because I thought she was the best contestant I've seen, before or since (although I really liked Kat McPhee, too.) But the last few seasons have really been lacking, at least that's the impression I've gotten from the little bits I've heard. Seeing Adam Lambert perform on the AMA's recently tells me all I need to know, if he almost won, I'm not missing much.

Umm what I wanna know is how 2009 ranks are released when the year isn't over yet...especially if repeats are factored in -- some of these shows still have 2009 repeats yet-to-air! And also, why wasn't this done on a TV season basis? Who cares about the year? That makes no sense for anything other than Top 10 telecasts (which still only makes marginal sense) because a new show could debut huge then fall off...but make Top 10 2009 since only Sept-Dec averages would be counted. Too bad there's no source line to check this out!

Most ratings stories only focus on the "money demo" (18-49), where The Good Wife only does so-so. But it's done very well with older viewers so its overall ratings are very high.

For me, too, it's the only show in the top ten that I watch, apart from occasionally catching a prime time football game.

This yet again proves to me that the Nielsen Ratings are so off. They need a much better system of seeing what people watch because their selected households clearly never agree with what most people say. Darn You American Idol!!!!!!!!!

Also on a side note how in the world did NCIS LA beat NCIS if NCIS is the #1 show on tv. I've seen both of there weekly ratings and NCIS is always on top. How is it ahead?

Oh how depressing.
And what the what!? The Good Wife? That came out of nowhere.

Just as I suspected, the time-shifted list is laden with SF and Friday programming.

As for the above list, I watch DWTS time-shifted but the rest isn't even on my radar.

I can't believe "The Good Wife" made it. The only quality show on the whole dang list. Score at least one for the good guys.

Huh, I don't watch a single one of the top ten. I guess I'm just not it tune with the rest of the tv viewing audience...

American Idol?!? Seriously, America?