• by Wayne Friedman , August 24, 2012

Looking for the top viewer-rated cable TV series this summer? TNT has a bunch of them -- which makes up for its early-season weaker performances.

Through August 19, the top five of six rated total viewer shows are TNT dramas:"The Closer" at 7.9 million viewers; "Rizzoli & Isles" at 7.7 million; and "Closer"-spinoff "Major Crimes," 7.2 million. TNT also got a fair look from viewers of "Perception," starting Eric McCormack, at 6.1 million and "Dallas" at 5.9 million.

Breaking up this sweep, History's still-strong "Pawn Stars" has posted 6.6 million viewers, good for fourth place. Rounding out the top 10 are USA Network's "Burn Notice" at 5.7 million; USA's "Royal Pains" at 5.6 million; USA's "Suits" at 5.4 million; and A&E's "Storage Wars" at 5.3 million.

Cable networks usually shine in the summer periods, when it launches many new shows. At one point, early in the season, TNT was down by double-digit-percentage declines. A late start to the NBA season hurt its viewership somewhat.

For the key 18-49 viewer list, a number of reality shows came out on top. History's "Pawn Stars" was No 1. at nearly 3 million, followed by A&E's "Storage Wars" at 2.7 million; Comedy Central's "Tosh.O" at 2.7 million; E!'s "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" at 2.5 million; and TNT's drama "Falling Skies" with 2.4 million.

Among older viewers 25-54, History's "Pawn Stars" was at the top with 3.3 million, followed by A&E's "Storage Wars" at 3.0 million; TNT's "Falling Skies" at 2.8 million; TNT's "Rizzoli & Isles" at 2.8 million; and History's "Swamp People" at 2.7 million.

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