•No trophy. MTV's Video Music Awards drew just 6.1 million viewers Thursday, plummeting to less than half last year's 12.4 million total to its lowest turnout since 2006.
•DNC tally. The Democratic National Convention outscored the GOP meeting, but Thursday's coverage drew 35.7 million viewers across 11 networks, down 7% from 2008.
•Ready for football. NBC's Sunday Night Football kicked off with 23.9 million for Wednesday's season opener, climbing to 27.6 million for Sunday's Denver-Pittsburgh matchup, 2 million higher than last year.
•Season finales. Fox's Hotel Hell (4.4 million viewers Monday); NBC's Stars Earn Stripes (2.9 million Monday); ABC's Rookie Blue (5.1 million Thursday); and Lifetime's Drop Dead Diva (2.8 million) and Army Wives (3.3 million, both Sunday). A&E's Coma miniseries was sleepy with an average 1.7 million Monday and Tuesday.
•Reality check. VH1's season opener of T.I. & Tiny, a series-high 4.1 million viewers Monday behind Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta, with a record 4.4 million; TLC's Breaking Amish, a big 3.1 million for Sunday's opener.
