‘NCIS’ gets most viewers, keeping CBS on top

“NCIS” was back at the top of the television ratings last week after a three-week absence, helping CBS become the most-watched network for the eighth time in the season’s nine weeks.

“NCIS” averaged 20.34 million viewers, continuing its streak of drawing more than 20 million viewers for each original episode this season and being the most-watched scripted series each week of the season, even in reruns.

CBS had four of the eight most-watched programs and nine of the 10 most-watched scripted series between Nov. 16 and Sunday and averaged 11.62 million viewers for its prime-time programming, according to figures released this week by the Nielsen Co.

ABC was second, averaging 10.01 million viewers. The network was helped by a season-high 18.84 million viewers for “Dancing With the Stars,” which finished second for the week, and Sunday’s “American Music Awards,” ninth for the week with 14.24 million -- its largest audience since 2002.

NBC was third for the week, topped by its “Sunday Night Football” game.

The ESPN “Monday Night Football” game between the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns on Nov. 16 was the week’s most-watched cable program with 10.2 million viewers, which would have placed it 22nd among the week’s programs on the five major broadcast networks.