The May sweeps — the Nielsen TV ratings — are over, and the No. 1 ranking goes to (drum roll), “NCIS.”
The CBS procedural, starring a top-notch combo led by Mark Harmon, dominated the list again with 18.8 million viewers.
The spin-off show, CBS’ “NCIS: Los Angeles,” at No. 4, and the Monday favorite, ABC’s “Castle,” were the only other procedurals on the Top 10.
The island-based CBS series, “Hawaii Five-0,” which has struggled to maintain a following in its third season, finished a distant No. 25 with 7.9 million viewers.
Highlights of the May sweeps:
• “American Idol” hit a record low, with 14.3 million viewers, which was down 33 per cent from the finale show last season; two episodes of CBS’ “Big Bang Theory” on Thursday, and the finale of “NCIS” Tuesday possibly added to the reality show’s erosion and decline.
• In network ranking, CBS was the winner with 11.9 million, and a 3.7 rating for the 18 to 49 demographics; ABC pulled in 7.9 million, and a 2.8 in demos; Fox eked out third place with 7.1 million and a 3.2 demo; and NBC was fourth with 7.0 million and a 3.0 demo.
The rating period was from April 21 through May 19.
Here’s the overall picture:

TOP 20 NETWORK SHOWS

Rank / Show ........................ Viewers (millions)
1 — “NCIS” (CBS) ..........................................18.8
2 — “Big Bang Theory” (CBS) ..........................15.5
3 — “American Idol” (Tue, Fox) .......................14.3
4 — “NCIS: Los Angeles” (CBS) ........................13.5
5 — “Dancing With the Stars” (Mon, ABC)..........13.3
6 — “American Idol” (Wed, Fox) ......................12.1
7 — “Dancing With the Stars” (Tue, ABC) .......11.9
8 — “Big Band Theory” (repeat, CBS) ..............11.8
9 — “The Voice” (Mon, NBC)..........................11.3
10 —“Castle” (ABC).......................................11.2
11 — “Criminal Minds” (CBS)..........................10.6
12 — “The Voice” (Tue, NBC) .........................10.5
13 — “60 Minutes” (CBS)..................................10.2
14 — “Modern Family” (ABC) ...........................10.0
15 — (tie) “CSI” (CBS)...................................... 9.5
(tie) “Billboard Music Awards” (ABC) ................9.5
17 — “Scandal” (ABC).........................................9.1
18 — (tie) “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC) ....................9.0
(tie) “Elementary” (CBS) ....................................9.0
20 — “2 Broke Girls” (CBS)................................8.9

Comments welcome ...

CBS’ “Hawaii Five-0” finished season three Monday (May 20) on a high note — winning its 9 p.m. (10 p.m. Mainland) time slot — but it was somewhat of a hollow victory.
The results were much better than last week, but not quite the numbers of the freshman year.
While the Hawaii-based procedural finished first in the 18 to 49 demographics with a 2.0 rating and attracting 9 million viewers, “Five-0” really had no competition since ABC’s usual “Castle,” the drama that constantly wins the hour, was pre-empted with a “Motive” series premiere that pulled in 6.8 million viewers for second place. NBC’s “Revolution” garnered 5.8 million for third.
The "Five-0" episode was entitled “Aloha, Malama Pono.” It might simply have been called “To Be Continued,” because that mantra prevailed. A lot of character/plot set-ups, a lot left hanging, presumably to be continued next season.

“To be continued” was uttered repeatedly in Monday’s (May 29) “Hawaii Five-0” finale, twice by Steve McGarrett (Alex O’Loughlin), once by Doris McGarrett (Christine Lahti).
And continuity, some obvious, some not, became the underlying element, played out with practically every single character, from Top Four to the ranks. Only one missing in action: Kamekona (Taylor Wily); will be open a cupcake bakery next season?
The TBC notion could also be applied to the final ratings for the season: how will the show do in season four, particularly since it’s moving from Mondays to 8 p.m. (9 p.m.) Fridays.

There were teasers, of course, notably the four-will-be-three element. The conclusion, to be played out in season four’s opening, hinted that Kono (Grace Park) might have been readily eliminated. She' still a problem for her peers and the viewers, still romantically involved with Adam (Ian Anthony Dale), the yakuza brother, and still asking folks like Catherine (Michelle Borth) to retrieve data for her. Her fate, and ours, as viewers?

To be continued. Kono, still wounded, witnessed Adam inadvertently shooting his brother Michael (Daniel Henney) in a gun struggle; by the episode’s end, she chose to flee with Adam to Shanghai, a bizarre trip arranged by Mama McG (Christine Lahti), who boards a tanker to find her peace.
Of course, you know Kono’s not going away for long, even if the actress doesn’t much like it Hawaii. Could she be killed on the show, or die due to complications from taking a bullet? Certainly. Could she simply walk and exit the series? Of course; she has reportedly been unhappy, mostly about salary, so somewhat of an off-screen problem with producers; if you recall, she didn’t appear at season three’s Sunset on the Beach premiere, though she was in town; go figure it out. But you know she’ll be back, like a bad penny.
To be continued: Will Mama McG, an unnecessary punctuation mark and a thorn in son McG’s life in season three, recur next year? She was destined to co-star in NBC’s “Beverly Hills Cop,” but the pilot was never picked up. So expect to see her next season (yawn) since she still is in cahoots with Wo Fat (Mark Dacascos).
TBC: Will Catherine rekindle a relationship with her ex? Not essential in the “H50” storytelling; so why, then, the needless encounter with the dude in the early minutes of the show? Will Michelle curtail her live-in relationship with McG? Not likely; that’s the only relevant love thread worth keeping.
And: Why did Chin (Daniel Dae Kim) make that phone call to Leilani (Lindsay Price), the nurse he met when he was held hostage? To rekindle another off-hour relationship? TBC.
Also TBC: Danno (Scott Caan) encountered Dr. Gabrielle Asano (Autumn Reeser) and he told her, “I don’t know what I was thinking,” and you wonder what’s next? Gotta be played out next season. Okeh.
The one TBC that has relevance and begs some kind of explanation: the relationship between Wo Fat and McG; why Mama McG visited Wo Fat in that prison steel-and-glass cubicle, before McG made his visit. Is Mama McG Wo Fat’s mom, too? That would make McG his bro, or half-bro, depending on how the spool unreels. McG is in a bad place; Wo Fat has a bad, disfigured face.
To be continued. ...

NBC’s “Today” show, taping its Monday May 20 program live from the beach in front of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki, will make history of sorts.
The live feed will air as it happens, from 1 to 3 a.m., while most of Hawaii will be in darkness and asleep, to coincide with the East Coast time frame. Then from 7 a.m., the program will repeat via satellite-delay, as it usually does on Hawaii News Now (KHNL/KGMB).
Hosts Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie, Natalie Morales and Willie Geist will be on hand for the Hawaii show; meteorologist Al Roker has had to return home to tend to weather issues on the Mainland.
This is not the first time the Peacock Network has aimed its camera on Island life. The first time was in the Bryant Gumbel/Katie Couric era, when the NBC team landed on the shores of Waikiki at the very same Royal Hawaiian, also known as the Pink Palace, the iconic luxury hotel in the Starwood franchise.
In the first go, Israel Kamakawiwo’ole and the Makaha Sons were among the Hawaii guest stars.
This time, the local celebs will include ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro and pop/folk music wizard Jack Johnson.
As usual, there will be visits with local chefs and restaurants and fun-in-the-sun segments involving surfing.
The public may gather and observe the wee-hour filming from the beach vantage point; only hotel guests who are able to stay awake will be allowed on the shore side of the beachfront barriers.
Producers have been in the islands the past week to stage, tape and complete pre-recorded segments during the daytime that will air during the live primetime.

The LYLAS: Helping launch Kipling store at Ala Moana Center.

The LYLAS, the up-and-coming girl group comprised of sisters of Hawaii superstar Bruno Mars, will perform at 5 p.m. today (May 16) at the opening of Kipling, the robust luggage and accessory label, at Ala Moana Center.
Doors opened this morning, but the festivities will be this evening. Following a mini-performance, The Lylas will do an autograph session from 6 to 7 p.m.
Give-aways and other activities were slated throughout the day, with shoppers able to earn prizes ranging from discount cards for future purchases at Kipling and a piece of classic Kipling luggage.
The Belgian brand is known for its contemporary design and trendy shapes and colors, as well as the iconic gorilla-with-thumb-in-the-mouth that dangles from most luggage, roll-aboards and shoulder bags.
It’s a unisex brand that’s durable; I’ve bought ‘em over the years, locally and in luggage shops in New York City, and they last forever and have made many trips with me.

It’s official: CBS is moving “Hawaii Five-0” from its Monday slot at 9 p.m. (10 p.m Mainland) to Friday night at 8 p.m.
So the rumors have been true. And in the new environment, there will be less pressure and fewer worries about numbers and rankings. Perhaps less stress, from one standpoint; so maybe the show will find its inner strength and grow and improve and, well, become a reborn project.
The Hawaii-based show, earlier renewed for a fourth season based on a previous TNT syndication, dodged cancellation because of the deal. This, as the procedural struggled somewhat and see-sawed for ratings stability opposite ABC’s “Castle,” which most often prevailed. NBC’s “Revolution” was third, though yanked for months during a mid-season hiatus, with its own ratings and viewership issues.
The repositioning on Fridays, sandwiched between “Undercover Boss” and “Blue Bloods,” is considered the death knell for under-performing shows.
It’s a neighborhood where figures and standings matter a skosh, but not like on other nights when competition is fierce and viewership soars.
Fridays, alas, is construed as the glue factory for thoroughbreds which have lost their glory in the horse race. TV critics are not silent about this positioning, and may have already wiped off "Five-0" as a contender and competitor this early in the game. While the move may benefit “Five-0,” it could also diminish its strength, eliminating a fifth season lifeline. Only time — and performance — will decide.
When “Five-0” vacates the Monday position this fall, the replacement show on CBS will be “Hostages,” with 15 episodes airing through January; then “Intelligence” assumes the slot for 13 episodes through June. Comedies will continue to precede the new dramas.
On Fridays, “Five-0” will compete with these shows: “Shark Tank” on ABC and “Grimm” on NBC.
Strange bedfellows: shark infestation (not literal sharks) and an element of the grim.
Hmmmmmmm...