ABC/CRAIG SJODINThe finale's over. The final numbers are in. And the verdict's loud and clear.
Among Bachelorette stars, Ashley Hebert is no Ali Fedotowsky.
One season after Fedotowsky's edition scored the franchise's best ratings in years, Hebert's tied for the second-lowest numbers among coveted young-adult viewers.
Not only that, blogs from BuddyTV to TV Junkies Unite! asked if this was the series' "worst" season and/or if Hebert was the "worst" Bachelorette.
Fortunately, for the show and its star, it's summer, competition wasn't stiff, and The Bachelorette actually never lost a Nielsen match.
True to form, last night's finale was easily Monday's most-watched show, averaging a season-high 9.5 million.
And, yes, also true to form, Hebert's finale was down millions from Fedotowsky's.
Meanwhile, here's a quick look at the TV week's ratings winners, per the just-released rankings:
• True Blood: Another steamy night, another Top 10 cable finish, with 5.2 million viewers.
• Curb Your Enthusiasm: Somebody pour water on Larry David, he's on relative fire, with 2.1 million viewers.
• Breaking Bad: Still slipping from its record-setting fourth-season premiere, but still on the high side for the Emmy-winner (1.7 million viewers).
• Belly floppers and junk dealers: The Professor Splash-graced America's Got Talent was the most-watched broadcast show (11.5 million); Pawn Stars (7 million), the No. 1 cable show.