ABC dominates with 'Bachelorette' finale

ABC dominated Monday night with the three-hour season finale of "The Bachelorette."

The finale (10.5 million viewers, 3.3 rating among adults 18 to 49 and 10 share) was the highest-rated episode of the show's current season and showed sharp growth over last week's episode.

The network’s post-finale one-hour special "After the Rose" (10 million, 3.6/10) managed to outperform the finale itself. It's the second time in recent weeks a "Bachelorette" special out-rated the regular show, which is unusual for a reality series as viewers are typically more engaged by the competition than by chats about the competition.

CBS (averaging 7.3 million, 2.1/6) and Fox (averaging 7.2 million, 2.1/6) tied for second place in the demo with repeats. NBC’s "American Gladiators" (5.3 million, 1.9/6) was on par, but "Nashville Star" (5.3 million, 1.5/4) fell 17% from its summer average. At 10 p.m., NBC aired "Dateline" (6 million, 1.8/5).