Sweeps: Fox Should Keep 18-49 Crown, NBC Drops

Facing the finish line, both ABC and CBS mixed it up on the last Thursday night of the May sweeps--with ABC coming out on top.

But the entire May sweeps period still belongs to Fox--positioned to win the period again, as well as the overall season among 18-49 viewers, its fourth year in a row.

Through three weeks of the sweep, Fox has earned a 4.0 rating/12 share--which is down 9% versus a year ago. ABC sits in second place. After three weeks, it is at a 3.5/10--up 3%. CBS is next at a 3.2/9, down 16%. NBC is in fourth place at 2.4/7, off 25%. The CW is currently at a 1.3/4, up 8% from the WB of last year.

On Thursday, ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" led the way with a 9.1 rating/23 share among 18-49 viewers, which was followed by a special clip show, "Lost: The Answers," which pulled in a 3.7/10. ABC won the night with a 5.9/17.

CBS also did well with "CSI," earning a solid 6.2/16 against "Grey's." CBS also offered a new twist, running a "CSI" rerun at 10 p.m.--earning a 3.9/10, which won the time period. CBS pulled in for second place at 4.5/13.

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NBC was next at a 3.4/10, winning a rare 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. time period with "The Office," which performed with a 3.9/12. The usual time period winner, "Survivor," had already ended its season. CBS aired a special on Bob Barker, long-time host of "The Price Is Right."

Fox and CW tied for fourth, each with a 1.5/4. Fox ran the movie "The Day After Tomorrow," while CW stuck with originals "Smallville" and "Supernatural."

MyNetworkTV, a full rating point below, also aired a movie, "Lethal Weapon 4," which earned a 0.5/1.

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