After setting new series lows several times over the past few weeks, ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” went out on a much stronger note for last night’s season finale, albeit well below last year’s season ender.

“Housewives” averaged a 7.0 adults 18-49 rating last night, according to Nielsen overnights, up 17 percent over last week’s series-low 6.0 overnight rating and its best outing since a 7.4 on March 4.

The show did continue to fall compared with last season, which averaged a 9.8 for its finale. But the 9 p.m. episode was still by far the night’s highest-rated show and was slightly above the show’s season-to-date 6.9 average, according to Nielsen.

ABC dominated the night, as CBS and NBC aired mostly movies instead of programs on the finale Sunday of May sweeps.

“Housewives” has been one of numerous hit shows to see ratings decline this spring. It became an instant hit when it debuted in fall 2004.

Also last night, the season finale and 400th episode of “The Simpsons” lifted the show to its best ratings in nearly five months, averaging a 4.5 at 8 p.m. for two episodes. It peaked with a 4.7 at 8:30.

ABC finished first last night among viewers 18-49 with a 4.6 average rating and a 13 share. Fox was second at 3.5/10, NBC third at 1.9/5, Univision fourth at 1.6/4, CBS fifth at 1.5/4 and CW sixth at 0.6/2. Univision’s hourly ratings were not available at press time.
 
ABC started the night in the lead with a 2.4 rating during the 7 p.m. hour for its first hour of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” Fox was second with a 1.9 for an hour of “King of the Hill,” CBS third with a 1.8 for “60 Minutes,” NBC fourth with a 1.1 for “Dateline” and CW fifth with a 0.4 for a repeat of “7th Heaven.”
 
Fox took the lead at 8 p.m. with a 4.5 for an hour of “The Simpsons,” with ABC slipping to second with a 4.3 for another hour of “Home Edition.” NBC was third with a 1.5 for the first hour of the movie “National Treasure,” CBS fourth with a 1.3 for the first hour of the movie “Million Dollar Baby” and CW fifth with a 0.6 for a repeat of “Gilmore Girls.”
 
ABC regained the lead at 9 p.m. with its 7.0 for “Housewives,” while Fox dropped back to second with a 4.0 average for “Family Guy” (4.5) and “American Dad” (3.6). NBC was third with a 2.2 for its second hour of “National Treasure,” CBS fourth with a 1.4 for the second hour of “Million Dollar Baby” and CW fifth with a 0.6 for a repeat of “America’s Next Top Model.”
 
At 10 p.m. ABC was first with a 4.7 for “Brothers & Sisters,” with NBC second with a 2.8 for the last hour of “National Treasure” and CBS third with a 1.6 for the final hour of “Million Dollar Baby.”
 
Among households, ABC was first for the night with an 8.1 average rating and a 14 share. CBS was second at 5.4/9, Fox third at 4.3/7, NBC fourth at 3.8/6 and CW fifth at 1.0/2.