The season finale (quickly followed by the second-season debut one week later) drew the highest 18-49 rating for any regularly scheduled broadcast show this year. Okay, it was only a 6.0, but this has been a slow summer.
   “For Love or Money” versions one and two have the highest summer average through last week, a 4.6. That’s 50 percent better than what some other middling reality shows, such as Fox’s “Banzai” or CBS’s “Amazing Race,” average.


Most unexpected hit – UPN, “America’s Next Top Model,” Tuesday 9 p.m.

   With little hype but lots of hips, this catfight became UPN’s most successful new show of the year, let alone the summer. The network boosted ratings among 18-24s, 18-34s and 18-49s in the time slot by at least 50 percent.
   The show also has helped UPN to the biggest year-over-year summer average improvement among 18-49s for any broadcast network.


Most low-key hit – NBC, “Last Comic Standing,” Tuesday 9 p.m.

   This show may have gotten lost between “Money” and “Fame” in the NBC publicity department, but it’s a surprisingly potent hit. Perhaps Americans are sick of seeing their reality contestants simply singing.
  “Last Comic Standing” ranks in the top 10 among 18-49s this summer and has improved by 32 percent the network’s rating in the 9 p.m. time slot versus last summer.
   “Last Comic” and “Money” have helped lift NBC to nine straight weeks at No. 1 among 18-49s.


Biggest disappointment – Fox, “American Juniors,” Tuesday 8 p.m. & Wednesday 8:30 p.m.

   Fox figured it couldn’t miss with a spinoff of its second-ranked program, “American Idol,” so it scheduled this show to debut in the summer and begin a second season in the fall.
   Now Fox has lost twice. It’s not so fun to watch kids be embarrassed on TV, and “Juniors” has struggled in its time slot against NBC’s “Dog Eat Dog,” the only other original programming it faces, averaging a 3.3 18-49 rating. The Wednesday results version is averaging an even poorer 2.7.
   Not surprisingly, Fox already is exploring options to replace “Juniors” on the fall schedule.

Biggest flameout – NBC, “Fame,” Wednesday 8 p.m.

   This show had one of the biggest debuts of the summer but cooled after just three weeks. Its 4.5 18-49 rating for its late-May bow sank to a 2.2 for last week’s finale.
    The network admitted that the show was a flop during last week’s Television Critics Association tour. Based on the show’s opening numbers, NBC expected much more than the show’s final 2.8 18-49 average.

Most overhyped – CBS, “Cupid,” Wednesday 10 p.m. (moving to Tuesday 9 p.m.)

   It seems like Simon Cowell was everywhere earlier this summer promoting his non-“American Idol” vehicle, but he’s actually a behind-the-scenes guy. Those hoping to watch him snipe at wannabe couples were disappointed.
   But “Cupid” has not exactly been an embarrassment. The show has averaged a 3.5 18-49 rating and, perhaps more importantly, a 4.4 among women 18-34.

Most dull – WB, “Boarding House: North Shore,” Wednesday 8 p.m.

   Might as well have called it “Boring House.” The show’s 1.0 18-49 average almost ranks it dead last among new summer shows.
   But that dishonor goes to WB Wednesday-mate “Pepsi Smash,” with a .8 average.

Most likely to return – CBS, “Big Brother,” Tuesday 8 p.m., Wednesday 9 p.m. & Friday 8 p.m.

   This is the real “survivor” on CBS. The network actually found a way to generate buzz, albeit minimal, by adding the exes element. The Tuesday and Wednesday shows thus far have averaged a 3.65 rating, just .05 behind “Last Comic Standing.”
   The Friday version, however, is averaging a 2.5. Still, “Big Brother” has become a reliable summer franchise for CBS. It’s doing much better than “Amazing Race 4,” which is down more than 19 percent from its third edition 18-49 rating to a 3.1.

Note: Due to a delay, the 18-49 ratings chart will be updated with this week’s rankings later in the day.