TV ratings: 'Dancing With the Stars' finale wins Tuesday but way down from last year

Fast national ratings for Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011

The finale of "Dancing With the Stars" won the night for ABC Tuesday, but its ratings were down significantly from last fall's closer, in keeping with this season as a whole. "NCIS" and the other CBS dramas had a bit of an off night, while a special Tuesday edition of "The X Factor" struggled opposite "DWTS."

ABC delivered 15.65 million viewers and a 9.9 rating/15 share in households Tuesday evening, beating CBS (14.3 million, 8.8/14) by a little more than a million viewers. FOX came in third with 9.3 million viewers and a 5.4/8. NBC (5.2 million, 3.3/5) finished fourth, and The CW trailed with 1.1 million viewers and a 0.8/1.

The Alphabet also led the adults 18-49 demographic with a 3.5 rating. FOX took second in the demo with a 3.2, topping CBS' 2.9. NBC averaged 1.9 and The CW 0.5.

Tuesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.

CBS: "NCIS" (18.45 million viewers, 11.3/18 households)
FOX: "The X Factor" (9.6 million, 5.8/9)
ABC: "Last Man Standing" (9.3 million, 5.6/9)/"Man Up!" (6.8 million, 4.1/6)
NBC: "The Biggest Loser" (5.7 million, 3.5/6)
The CW: "90210" (1.3 million, 0.9/1)

18-49 leader: "NCIS" (3.5)

9 p.m.

ABC: "Dancing With the Stars" finale (18.5 million, 11.8/18)
CBS: "NCIS: Los Angeles" (14 million, 8.6/13)
FOX: "The X Factor" (9.1 million, 5.2/8)
NBC: "The Biggest Loser" (5.45 million, 3.3/5)
The CW: "Hart of Dixie" rerun (944,000, 0.6/1)

18-49 leader: "Dancing With the Stars" (3.8)

10 p.m.

ABC: "Dancing With the Stars" finale (20.4 million, 13.1/21)
CBS: "Unforgettable" (10.3 million, 6.6/11)
NBC: "Parenthood" (4.5 million, 2.9/5)

18-49 leader: "Dancing With the Stars" (4.4)

Ratings information includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change. Source: The Nielsen Company.

More ratings at Zap2it: Daily, weekly and cable