Nielsens: Highs and lows of season finales

By Bill Keveney, USA TODAY

?Surviving OK. "Boston" Rob Mariano's victory on CBS' Survivor: Redemption Island Sunday attracted 13.3 million viewers, just a tick downward from the 13.5 million who tuned into last spring's finale.

  • Rob Mariano, who won 'Survivor: Redemption Island' in front of 13.3 million viewers, reunion show Sunday in New York.

    By Neilson Barnard,, Getty Images

    Rob Mariano, who won 'Survivor: Redemption Island' in front of 13.3 million viewers, reunion show Sunday in New York.

By Neilson Barnard,, Getty Images

Rob Mariano, who won 'Survivor: Redemption Island' in front of 13.3 million viewers, reunion show Sunday in New York.

?Finish line. CW's Smallville (3 million viewers) had a little goodbye bump for its two-hour finale Friday after 10 seasons, up a tick from a season average of 2.7 million. Syfy's Stargate Universe ended its run Monday with 1.1 million.

?Till we meet again. Season finales: CBS' Blue Bloods, (11.8 million Friday), CSI (11.8 million Thursday) and CSI: NY (10.4 million Friday); ABC's Desperate Housewives (10.3 million Sunday), Extreme Makeover: Home (8.6 million Sunday) and Shark Tank (5 million Friday); Fox's Cleveland Show (4.9 million Sunday); NBC's Community (3.3 million Thursday); and CW's Vampire Diaries (2.9 million) and Nikita (1.9 million), both Thursday.

?Farewell. Middling to bad turnouts for two comedies that won't be back next season: ABC's Better With You attracted a modest 6 million viewers Wednesday, and NBC's Outsourced finished Thursday with a scant 3 million.

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