Three weeks into the 2009-10 TV season, and a trend is emerging: CBS’s NCIS is on top! For the week ending Oct. 11, the procedural Navy drama pulled in an impressive 20.7 million viewers to land at No. 1. And the competition wasn’t even nipping at its heels: ABC’s Dancing with the Stars pulled in 16.4 million for No. 2; and NCIS spin-off NCIS: Los Angeles drew just below that, 16.3 million viewers, for No. 3.
Since all of fall’s big shows have already premiered, the rest of the Top 20 for the week was surprisingly similar to the first two weeks, too. Lots of CBS procedurals and comedies, a smattering from ABC (Dancing with the Stars results on Tuesday, Desperate Housewives, and Grey’s Anatomy), Fox’s House, and—no surprise!—just Sunday Night Football on NBC. The CW, as usual, didn’t appear in the Top 20 at all.
The full listing—with viewership totals—is after the jump.
1. NCIS | CBS | 20.7 million
2. Dancing with the Stars Monday | 16.4 million
3. NCIS: Los Angeles | CBS | 16.3 million
4. Sunday Night Football | NBC | 16.0 million
5. CSI | CBS | 14.9 million
6. The Mentalist | CBS | 14.7 million
7. 60 Minutes | CBS | 14.5 million
8. Grey’s Anatomy | ABC | 14.1 million
(tie) 8. Criminal Minds | CBS | 14.1 million
10. House | Fox | 13.7 million
(tie) 10. The Good Wife | CBS | 13.7 million
12. CSI: Miami | CBS | 13.4 million
(tie) 12. Desperate Housewives | ABC | 13.4 million
14. Two and a Half Men | CBS | 13.3 million
15. The Big Bang Theory | CBS | 12.5 million
16. CSI: NY | CBS | 12.4 million
(tie) 16. Dancing with the Stars Tuesday | ABC | 12.4 million
18. Survivor: Samoa | CBS | 11.7 million
19. The Amazing Race | CBS | 10.5 million
(tie) 19. College Football | CBS | 10.5 million
More from EW.com’s Hollywood Insider:
Ratings: ‘Dancing with the Stars’ wins but dips from last week
NBC pulls ‘Glee’ from Macy’s Thanksgiving parade
‘Glee’ tour in planning stages for 2010
I’m beyond happy for the cast and crew (et al) at “NCIS” and am thrilled that several million new viewers have discovered this treasure of a show.
I feel the same way, but at the same time it’s sort of trippy. The net ratings have gone up for all but one season. The current viewership is 75% greater than season 1 (20.63 million versus 11.84). How many other shows increased viewership over that long of a span? Especially one that was a quiet hit: not the buzz and attention of Lost, Heroes or CSI:, but rather a lightly advertised long-term performer?
I love the T.V. show “NCIS,” but back when I was in the Navy in the 70s and 80s, it seemed like all the NIS (as it was called then) did was investigate people suspected of being gay, so they could be discharged.
Peggy, I was in the Navy in the 1980s and NIS on my base overseas also investigated a fairly serious sexual harassment case (I was interviewed as a witness) and an assault case where a sailor stabbed a local civilian.
You note that CW isn’t in the top 20, but the only NBC entry is Football? Oh how they have fallen!
I have loved NCIS for years and I am so glad it is finally getting the ratings it has always deserved (now if EW could actually recap it and include it in it’s week highlights than you guys might actually catch up with the public)
I second that, Nerwen.
My big concern if EW recaps is that it will be done with sarcasm and derision.
I write one – broken down by Acts – over on IMDb. I usually have it posted by Wednesday afternoon. It’s part what occurred and part my own observations about what occurred.
ncis is okay but if you look at the line up that it is up against that night of the week it’s ncis or reality shows. pretty easy in my opionion to dominate.
KJ – NCIS was pulling in respectable numbers last spring against the juggernaut that is American Idol. It’s an honest win.
i know and it is a good show i’m just saying the BIG RATINGS push for this season.
And AI producers know that their competition will be alot more fierce this year. Why else bring on a high-profile but totally unqualified judge and create water-cooler buzz? But as CBS proves week after week, generating water-cooler buzz is becoming more and more obsolete as a way of creating hits.
KJ,
‘NCIS’ is winning not just Tuesday nights but the whole dang week for the last 3 weeks. And as the article pointed out nothing is even “nipping at it’s heels”.
You miss the point. It has less competition in the hour so more people tune in, as opposed to CSI that is up against Grey’s, the office and Fringe. NCIS competition is Shark Tank, Biggest loser and Hell’s kitchen. It is the only option for people who don’t want to watch reality. Regardless, the NCIS ratings are strong but it is mostly older viewers so it won’t get the respect it deserved.
I became a new NCIS viewer when I discovered it in May. Thanks to USA, ION & Sleuth, I managed to watch nearly every episode this summer. I now look forward to Tuesday nights 7:00/c. How has this show not been nominated for an Emmy or Golden Globe? Crazy!
that is totally me i saw my 1st episode after season 6 finale
Wow! I watch NONE of those shows, except for the occasional 60 Minutes. I guess the comedy IS dead; and yes, that includes Two and Half Men.
Dancing With The Stars- #2 Yay!!!!
I love that fun little show.
And still no NCIS recap. Really?
I would love to point out that Big Bang Theory is always in top 20, but How I Met Your Mother isn’t. I think they need to move to a later time so they can benefit with a bit more freedom a later time slot will give them script wise.
NBC needs to bring back Chuck now, if they hope to improve their ratings.
I follow NCIS: Los Angeles (I’m a sucker for L.A. shows)…and I thought CBS was just making up boasts for their promos, but one look at this Top 20 demonstrates CBS is for real.
Why can’t poor NBC put it together? Though it is hard to root for them when they can’t work shows like Southland and just throw in the towel on them.
I’m curious to see how the ALCS does next week since it’s on Fox.
I like to note the fact that Veronica Mars had better ratings than Melrose Place….stupid CW
GO NCIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I am soooo glad that NCIS is wooping butt! But i haven’t kept up with NCIS LA much i think i watched the first two episodes and then i got bored and had better things to watch on youtube because i had to watch NCIS LA on fancast. GO ZIVA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TIVA FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!