ABC enjoyed across-the-board ratings gains Sunday night with its dramas climbing slightly from their post-strike return malaise.

"Desperate Housewives" (16.6 million viewers, 6.2 preliminary adults 18-49 rating and a 16 share) was up 5% to lead the night and help lock in ABC's 11th consecutive Sunday win (averaging 11.6 million, 4.2/12). At 7 p.m., "America's Funniest Home Videos" (7.3 million, 2.4/9) aired its 400th episode and won the hour. "Extreme Makeover" gained a couple of pegs (11.5 million, 4.1/12). At 10 p.m., "Brothers and Sisters" was up a notch (10.8 million, 3.9/10).

Fox was second, with its comedies declining week-to-week. The season finale of "Family Guy" (7.7 million, 3.9/10) was down 9%, yet led the lineup. The network also had originals of "The Simpsons" (6.2 million, 3.0/9), which matched its second-lowest-rating ever, "King of the Hill" (5.7 million, 2.7/8), which was down 10%, and "American Dad" (6.2 million, 3.1/8), down 9%.

CBS and NBC placed a modestly rated third and fourth, respectively. CBS was led by the 8 p.m. season finale of "Cold Case" (11.6 million, 2.4/7). The procedural was down 11% from last week's 9 p.m. outing and was followed by a couple hours of "Dexter" episodes repurposed from Showtime (6.6 million, 1.6/5). NBC had "Dateline" (4.2 million, 1.2/4), repurposed cable dramas and a repeat. The CW's comedy block was unchanged (averaging 1.2 million, 0.5/1).

On Friday, CBS won the night once again with the top three shows, with bubble series "Moonlight" (2.1/7) unchanged week-to-week.

ABC climbing from post-strike doldrums

'Desperate Housewives' leads night with 16.6 mil viewers

By James Hibberd

May 5, 2008, 02:08 PM