TV Top Ten - Hugh Jackman Couldn't Save The Oscars

Viewership of the Academy Awards has been rocky over the last decade. Last year's 32 million tuners-in was the lowest in over thirty years. Of course, none of this should come as a surprise to anyone. As interminable and sleepy as the ceremony has gotten, it stretches the limits of America's already ridiculously short attention span.

This year, thanks to host Hugh Jackman and the potential for a massive Brad Pitt/Angelina Jolie/Jennifer Aniston awkward moment scandal, viewership jumped to 36 million. Sure it's an improvement, but it's still the third lowest rating since Nielsen started keeping track.

Meanwhile other top ten contenders are seeing increased viewer numbers as Americans turn to their televisions. Some say it's because we're looking for more escapist entertainment, but I think folks are taking advantage of the extra analog television that Congress doled out.

RANK PROGRAM NTWK RATING VIEWERS

NETWORK TELEVISION

1. ACADEMY AWARDS(S) ABC 20.6 36.31

2. OSCAR'S RED CARPET 2009(S) ABC 14.5 24.357

3. AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY FOX 14.3 25.374

4. AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY FOX 14.1 24.79

5. MENTALIST, THE CBS 11.3 18.226

6. NCIS CBS 11 18.064

7. CSI CBS 10.4 16.92

8. GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM ABC 10 15.572

9. CRIMINAL MINDS CBS 9.2 14.536

10. HOUSE FOX 8.5 14.195

CABLE TELEVISION

1. CLOSER, THE TNT 3.9 5.887

2. WWE ENTERTAINMENT (WWE RAW) USA 3.7 6.402

3. MONK USA 3.5 5.544

4. WWE ENTERTAINMENT (WWE RAW) USA 3.3 5.541

5. NCIS USA 3.2 4.962

6. SPONGEBOB NICK 3.1 4.678

6. BURN NOTICE USA 3.1 4.677

8. ICARLY NICK 3 5.089

9. NCIS USA 2.9 4.251

9. WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE DSNY 2.9 4.468

9. NCIS USA 2.9 4.556

9. PSYCH USA 2.9 4.828

9. DADNAPPED DSNY 2.9 4.62