TV

NEW YORK — Dancing has joined singing at the top of the television charts.

The return of Dancing With the Stars last week gave a boost to ABC, which has been struggling through a tough winter. The competition's two editions last week were second in viewership behind television's dominant show, American Idol, according to Nielsen Media Research.

With 17 million viewers for its second edition, Dancing With the Stars even managed to hold up well while directly competing against Tuesday's Idol.

A Britney Spears guest shot on How I Met Your Mother meant a million to CBS — in curious viewers. Her appearance Monday was seen by 10.6 million viewers, or a million more than the audience for the comedy's first new episode back from the strike last week. Among the 18-to-49-year-old demographic, it was the most-watched episode of the series ever.

The Parker Posey comedy The Return of Jezebel James has been axed the series following three showings.