Nielsens: 'True Blood' rising, 'Skies' falling

For the week of June 20, HBO's True Blood came back with a roar, tying a series high of 5.4 million viewers. Over on TNT, the second week Falling Skies dropped 29% to 4.2 million.

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  By Kevin Winter, Getty Images

  Sunday's 'BET Awards,' in which performer Patti LaBelle was paid tribute, had 7.7 million viewers, up from 7.4 million last year.

By Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Sunday's 'BET Awards,' in which performer Patti LaBelle was paid tribute, had 7.7 million viewers, up from 7.4 million last year.

?Suckers. HBO's True Blood returned for a fourth season Sunday with 5.4 million viewers, tying a series high, although Treme, which followed, sank to 721,000. Also Sunday, the BET Awards claimed a second-best 7.7 million, which was up from 7.4 million last year.

?Gameplay. Reality series Expedition Impossible opened merely OK Thursday with 7.2 million viewers, but it was the best of ABC's summer premieres, topping cop drama Rookie Blue (5.8 million), Tuesday's 101 Ways to Leave a Game Show (5.6 million) and drama Combat Hospital (5.3 million).

?Ratingsoro. Univision's Spanish-language coverage of the Copa Oro (Gold Cup) USA-Mexico soccer championship scored 8 million viewers Saturday, topping the night and marking a record for the event.

?Prez speaks.President Obama's brief speech Wednesday on planned troop reductions in Afghanistan drew 25.4 million viewers on nine networks.

?Suiting up. USA's latest, Suits, opened to a solid 4.6 million viewers Thursday behind Burn Notice (5.2 million). Sunday's series finale of Law & Order: Criminal Intent arrested 3.8 million. TNT's Leverage returned with 3.4 million, while Week 2 of Falling Skies dropped 29% to 4.2 million.

?Bow wow. Man-dog comedy Wilfred opened with 2.6 million viewers Thursday, FX's most-watched comedy premiere, while the Season 2 opener of Louie had 1.6 million, up from 1.1 million for last summer's late-night opener.

?More openers. NBC's The Marriage Ref (4.7 million viewers Sunday); A&E's Hoarders (2.1 million Monday); and ABC's Primetime Nightline (4.8 million Wednesday). Departing: Showtime's Nurse Jackie (832,000 Monday).

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