The Sked: TUESDAY RATINGS May 15

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CBS won Tuesday night with finales of two strong procedural dramas, matching last year’s nightly rating with solid scheduling. FOX and NBC came close to their performance on the same night last year, while ABC has utterly crashed Tuesday and is hoping for a major rebuild next year.

NBC aired night two of America’s Got Talent from 8-10 pm, averaging a preliminary 3.4 rating (probably a 3.5 in the official national ratings this afternoon). This is down somewhat from a 3.7 official national rating for the premiere on Monday. The second episode last year also scored a 3.7 on Tuesday, June 7 from 8-9 pm. Given general declines in many returning shows, the AGT start is not alarming, assuming the show can build throughout the summer as it faces more repeats and audience favorites begin to emerge among the contestants. Fashion Star killed the momentum with a 1.6 for its season finale, not quite able to return to its rather low peak of a 1.8 rating. Last year on this night: Biggest Loser (2.9) from 8-10 pm and The Voice (4.5).

FOX’s Glee tried to stir up some interest with a two-hour finale and guest stars including Lindsay Lohan, but the struggling show turned in a preliminary 2.5 from 8-10 pm, destined for a 2.6 in the official nationals (just slightly above the season low). Like CBS, the year-to-year comparison for the entire night was more favorable because a second hour of a declining Glee was still better than the horrible comedy performance it got last year on this night at 9 pm from Raising Hope and especially Breaking In. Last year on this night, FOX aired Glee (3.6), Raising Hope (2.2) and Breaking In (1.3).

ABC said goodbye to Cougar Town, which proved it belongs on TBS. Two original episodes sported a 1.0 rating from 8-9 pm. Last Man Standing now looks like a runaway hit. Dancing with the Stars Results eroded again at 9 pm to a 2.2 preliminary rating, although Private Practice rebounded a bit to a 1.8 rating (slightly above its premiere but still lagging behind the strong performances on its second and third Tuesday airings). The same night last year: Dancing with the Stars Recap (2.5), Dancing with the Stars Results (3.5) and Body of Proof (3.5).