Big Heroes, Chuck Finales Equal Big Payoffs?

Tue., Apr. 28, 2009 10:04 AM PDT by Joal Ryan

Heroes' sudden death and Chuck's screwy wedding were the stuff of season finales. The ratings weren't.

At 9 p.m., last night's Heroes averaged 6.4 million die-hards, same as last week, per preliminary Nielsen estimates, and ran last among the big four networks in adults 18-49. At 8 p.m., Chuck played to 6.1 million faithful fans, same as last week, and ran last among the big four networks in the demo.

Neither finale matched its series' respective season average: 7.7 million for Heroes; 6.5 million for Chuck.

That Heroes' third season was its least-watched season ever wasn't unusual—most shows are going down, not up. That Heroes' third season was, heading into its finale, down (hide your eyes) 34 percent from its second season was something else.

Two-season-old Chuck was down an almost-standard 18 percent from last year.

Heroes, which does draws more young adults and encourages more DVR use than Chuck, has been renewed for a fourth season (but handed a shorter episode order). Chuck remains on the bubble.

Elsewhere in Monday's ratings:

• Another injury, another big night for Dancing With the Stars (19.4 million), which was the most-watched show. Two and a Half Men (14.1 million) ruled among adults 18-49.

• Heroes wishes to point out that House (11.4 million) is running about 25 percent behind last year. The stats point out that House is still winning its time slot in the demo.

• In House-owned 8 p.m., demographically speaking, the only show Gossip Girl (2 million) could beat out for the attentions of women 18-34 was poor Chuck. At 9 p.m., One Tree Hill (2.2 million) was more competitive among the CW's favorite people thanks, in part, to the fact that chicks don't dig 24 (10.6 million) nearly as much as they dig House.

• At 9:30 p.m., Rules of Engagement (11.3 million) opened up a lead over Surviving Suburbia (9.9 million).

• The Big Bang Theory (9.3 million) and How I Met Your Mother (8.9 million) were solid.

• The non-finale-airing Medium (6.7 million) scored NBC's biggest audience but was still down from last week and still whalloped by CSI: Miami (12 million).

We're up for Webby Awards! Vote for E! Online in the Celebrity/Fan and Mobile categories!