A season of record-low ratings for “Survivor: Exile Island” also led to what will likely be a record low for last night’s finale as well.

From 8 to 10 p.m., it averaged a 6.1 in adults 18-49, according to Nielsen overnights, down 20 percent from last December’s “Survivor: Guatemala’s” 7.6 average. It was also down 18 percent from the previous lowest-rated finale, a 7.4.

That’s still a potent number, but clearly the show is in decline. At 9 p.m., it aired opposite ABC’s “Desperate Housewives,” which averaged an 8.1 to “Survivor’s” 6.3. CBS’s strategy of airing “Survivor’s” finale on Sunday worked better several years ago, when it didn’t have ABC’s powerhouse Sunday lineup to contend with.

At 10 p.m., airing opposite ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” which averaged a 9.6, the “Survivor” reunion averaged just a 4.9.

Elsewhere last night, the series finales of NBC’s “The West Wing” and Fox’s “Malcolm in the Middle” both saw bumps over their regular-season averages, though not huge ones.

“Wing” averaged a 2.8 at 8 p.m., finishing fourth in the timeslot. That’s not even half what the show used to average during its early heyday, but it was 0.5 better than last week.

“Malcolm” averaged a 3.4 at 8:30, moving behind “The Simpsons” for an extra bit of punch. That may be “Malcolm’s” highest-rated episode of the season when final ratings are released.

Meanwhile, ABC won the night among 18-49s with a 6.1 rating and 16 share. CBS was second with a 4.9/13, Fox third with a 3.1/8, NBC fourth with a 2.9/7, Univision fifth with a 1.5/4 and WB sixth with a 1.0/3.
 
ABC and CBS tied for the lead at 7 p.m. with a 2.5 for “America’s Funniest Home Videos” and “60 Minutes,” respectively. Fox was third with a 2.1 for a “Simpsons” repeat (1.8) and the finale of “King of the Hill” (2.4).
 
At 8 p.m., CBS moved ahead with a 5.9 for the “Survivor” finale, followed by ABC with a 4.2 for “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and Fox with a 3.7 for “Simpsons” (3.9) and “Malcolm” (3.4).
 
At 9 p.m., ABC took over the lead with an 8.1 for “Housewives.” CBS was second with a 6.3 for “Survivor” and Fox third with a 3.5 for “”Family Guy” (3.8) and the finale of “American Dad” (3.1).
 
At 10 p.m., ABC held on to the lead with a 9.6 for “Grey’s.” CBS’s “Survivor Reunion” was second with a 4.9 followed by NBC with a 3.7 for the finale of “Law & Order: Criminal Intent.”
 
Among households, ABC won the night with a 9.5 rating and 16 share, followed by CBS with a 8.4/14, NBC with a 6.4/11, Fox with a 3.9/7, Univision with a 1.6/3 and WB with a 1.5/3.