Shows featuring dancing, dating, dousing attract summer viewers; reruns help CBS win the week

Dancing, dating, dousing shows dominate prime time

NEW YORK — In the middle of the summer, television viewers go for mentally untaxing fare. Shows with dancing, dating and dousings were big in prime time last week.

None of them involved LeBron James. The Miami Heat forward’s ESPN special to announce his new employer was seen by nearly 10 million people Thursday, higher than all but three prime-time programs on the broadcast networks last week.

The Nielsen Co.’s top 15 programs included two editions of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” contest and two editions of CBS’ crowded house reality series “Big Brother.” There were also two nights of ABC’s “Wipeout,” where hapless contestants try to avoid being dunked in water while circumventing an obstacle course. ABC’s “The Bachelorette” was behind only NBC’s talent show as the top reality series.

CBS won the week primarily on the strength of its reruns.

Online:

www.nielsenmedia.com