Beyond the Numbers: Nielsen High for 'Mad Men'

July 31, 2008— -- Critically acclaimed "Mad Men" scored a series-high 2.1 million viewers for its second-season debut on Sunday. "Hannah Montana" and "Miley Cyrus" ruled the Saturday night Nielsen ratings roost.

• Admen. Sunday's second-season debut of the critically lauded AMC drama "Mad Men" claimed a series-high 2.1 million viewers, a boost from 1.6 million for last summer's debut and double last season's average.

• ABC's "F." Monday's reality lineup of "High School Musical: Get in the Picture" (3.1 million viewers), the premiere of "Wanna Bet?" (3.1 million) and "The Mole" (3.3 million) added up to a weak fourth-place finish and underperformed last year's forgettable "Fat March" on the same night.

•Switcheroo. CBS' swap of "Flashpoint" and "Swingtown" didn't help much: "Flashpoint" averaged 6.7 million Thursday, down from last Friday's 7.1 million, but narrowly won its slot among young adults. "Swingtown" fell to a series-low 4.2 million Friday.

•"Hannah" rocks. Disney Channel's "Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds" concert drew 5.9 million fans Saturday, the night's top show.

•One bloody brawl. The second of CBS' "Elite XC Saturday Night Fights" was pummeled to 2.6 million viewers Saturday, losing nearly half the audience for May's first contest.

•Teens and Tori. "The Secret Life of an American Teenager" scored 3.1 million viewers Tuesday, ABC Family's top series telecast. The same night, Oxygen's "Tori and Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood" hit a series-high 1.1 million, edging out the second-season debut of Lifetime's "How to Look Good Naked" (875,000).

•Exits. Fox's "5th Grader" season finale Thursday earned a slot-winning 7.4 million viewers, but ABC's "Duel" left with 3.1 million Friday. Discovery's "Deadliest Catch" angled its way out with 3.6 million Tuesday. And "Food Network Star's" Season 4 finale whipped up a series- and network-high 4.5 million Sunday.

•Openers. A&E's "Criss Angel: Mindfreak" (2.3 million Wednesday); TLC's "Take Home Nanny" (684,000 Monday) and Bravo's "Date My Ex" (467,000 Monday).