ABC tops modest Sunday; 'Sit Down' slips

ABC topped a modestly rated Sunday evening in the Nielsens, led by Desperate Housewives and Fox's Family Guy.

With NBA playoffs continuing on cable, most shows were off a couple of tenths from their last original performances. ABC had Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (8.7 million viewers, 2.8 preliminary adults 18-49 rating), Desperate Housewives (13.5 million, 4.7) and Brothers & Sisters (9.4 million, 3.1).

Fox and CBS tied for second place, though the latter won the night among total viewers. Starting in the 8 p.m. hour, CBS aired Amazing Race (10.3 million, 3.1) and Cold Case (10.5 million, 2.2). At 10 p.m., bubble show The Unit (8.9 million, 2.0) dropped 20% from its last original to place last at 10 p.m.

Fox ran The Simpsons (5.9 million, 2.9), Sit Down, Shut Up (4.2 million, 1.9), Family Guy (6.8 million, 3.4) and American Dad (5.1 million, 2.5). Sit Down fell 17% from its premiere last week.

In fourth place, NBC had a two-hour Dateline (5.1 million, 1.1) leading into a two-hour Celebrity Apprentice (8.1 million, 3.0).