Queen Elizabeth's jubilee celebration takes a ratings bow
LOS ANGELES (AP) - The U.S. split from Great Britain is history, but the monarchy still has a hold on its former colony's heart.
Two specials about Queen Elizabeth II and the celebration of her 70th year on the throne broke into last week's top 20 highest-rated programs in prime time, according to Nielsen figures out Tuesday.
ABC's 'œParty at the Palace,'ť a star-laden concert that included Elton John, Diana Ross and Queen with Adam Lambert, ranked No. 15. The CBS News documentary 'œHer Majesty the Queen,'ť hosted by Gayle King, came in at No. 18.
A skit of the queen taking tea with an animated Paddington Bear charmed the throng of spectators at the Platinum Jubilee pop concert outside Buckingham Palace. The pre-taped video also proved widely irresistible online.
The first two games of the Golden State Warriors-Boston Celtics NBA finals topped the ratings, but viewers also had time for a special prime-time episode of 'œThe Price Is Right'ť honoring first responders.
Powered by basketball, ABC led the week in prime time, averaging 4.4 million viewers. CBS had 3.1 million, NBC had 2.5 million, Fox had 1.5 million, Univision had 1.3 million, Telemundo had 890,000 and Ion Television had 870,000.
ABC's 'œWorld News Tonight'ť won the evening news competition with an average of 7.2 million viewers. NBC's 'œNightly News'ť had 6.1 million and the 'œCBS Evening News'ť tallied 4.3 million.
The weekly cable network averages were not available Tuesday.
For the week of May 30 to June 5, the 20 most-watched shows, their networks and viewerships:
1. NBA Finals Game 2: Boston at Golden State (Sunday), ABC, 11.9 million.
2. NBA Finals Game 1: Boston at Golden State, (Thursday), ABC, 11.4 million.
3. 'œ60 Minutes Presents,'ť CBS, 6.8 million.
4. 'œAmerica's Got Talent, (Tuesday)'ť NBC, 6.3 million.
5. NBA Finals Post-Game 2, ABC, 6.27 million.
6. 'œFBI,'ť CBS, 4 million.
7. 'œThe Price is Right,'ť CBS, 3.98 million.
8. 'œYoung Sheldon,'ť CBS, 3.9 million.
9. NBC Countdown Game 1, ABC, 3.8 million.
10. 'œEqualizer,'ť CBS, 3.6 million.
11. 'œLet's Make a Deal,'ť CBS, 3.5 million.
12. 'œFBI: International,'ť CBS, 3.45 million.
13. 'œ20-20 (Friday),'ť ABC, 3.44 million.
14. 'œParty at the Palace,'ť ABC, 3.44 million.
15. 'œFBI: Most Wanted,'ť CBS, 3.4 million.
16. 'œNCIS,'ť CBS, 3.2 million.
17. 'œChicago Fire,'ť NBC, 3.14 million.
18. 'œHer Majesty the Queen,'ť CBS, 3.13 million.
19. 'œUnited States of Al,'ť CBS, 3.12 million.
20. 'œJimmy Kimmel Live: NBA Finals Game Night,'ť ABC, 3.11 million.