"American Idol" saw ratings go up year over year for the first time since seaon five. CREDIT: Michael Becker/FOX

The theme this past year is the big got bigger. The top five shows a year ago are all up in ratings, according to Nielsen Media Research.

For the eighth year in a row, the most popular TV show was “American Idol” for the 2010-11 season.

The performance shows on Wednesday, according to Arbitron, averaged 25.97 million, up about 1.2 million viewers from a year ago, its first increase in viewership since season five. The Thursday results show came in No. 2 at 23.87 million viewers, up 400K from a year ago.

Both “Dancing With the Stars” performance and results shows were also up more than two million viewers year over year, as was NBC’s Sunday Night Football. “NCIS” gained about one million viewers a week.

Most shows, as is typical, saw a drop-off in viewers year over year including “Undercover Boss,” “CSI,” “The Mentalist,” “Two and a Half Men” (forced to play more repeats because of the Sheen problem), “Desperate Housewives,” “Survivor,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “CSI: Miami.”

Here are the top 50 programs of 2010-11 season, which also includes repeats.

Since these are overall viewers, CBS dominates. These include all viewers including DVR usage up to seven days after it aired through 5/15 and live plus same day for 5/16 or later. Episodes designated as “special” are not included.

Rank. Show. Avg. no. of viewers (rank among 18-49)

1. American Idol performance show: 25.97 million (1)

2. American Idol results show 23.87 million (3)

3. Dancing With the Stars performance show: 21.98 million (7)

4. NBC Sunday Night Football: 21.43 million (2)

5. NCIS: 19.46 million (12)

6. Dancing With the Stars results show: 18.65 million (17)

7. NCIS: Los Angeles: 16.54 million (24)

8. Sunday Night NFL pre-kickoff show: 15.94 million (4)

9. The Mentalist 15.24 million (36)

10. Criminal Minds: 14.11 million (22)

11. Survivor: Nicaragua: 13.611 million (11)

12. CSI: 13.52 million (35)

13. Body of Proof: 13.36 million (49)

14. 60 Minutes: 13.35 million (71)

15. The Big Bang Theory: 13.14 million (10)

16. The Good Wife: 12.998 million (57)

17. Two and a Half Men: 12.73 million (15)

18. Survivor: Redemption Island: 12.71 million (21)

19. Blue Bloods: 12.58 million (85)

20. The Voice: 12.337 million (5)

21. The OT (Fox) 12.258 million (8)

22. Hawaii Five-O: 11.93 million (31)

23. Amazing Race 17: 11.93 million (23)

24. Modern Family: 11.89 million (6)

25. Undercover Boss: 11.87 million (32)

26. Desperate Housewives: 11.85 million (20)

27. CSI: Miami: 11.75 million (50)

28. Harry’s Law: 11.65 million (77)

29. Bones: 11.57 million (25)

30. Castle: 11.44 million (43)

31. Grey’s Anatomy: 11.41 million (9)

32. Dancing With the Stars repeat: 11.41 million (86)

33. Secret Millionaire: 11.16 million (46)

34. Football NT America Pt 3 (NBC) 11.16 million (14)

35. Mike & Molly: 11.14 million (28)

36. The Bachelor: 10.79 million (26)

37. CSI: NY: 10.73 million (92)

38. $#*! My Dad Says : 10.69 million (highest ranked show axed) (38)

39. Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior: 10.57 million (also axed) (55)

40. The Defenders: 10.47 million (and… axed!) (82)

41. Amazing Race 18: 10.35 million (41)

42. House: 10.32 million (19)

43. Glee: 10.11 million (13)

44. So You Think You Can Dance: 9.455 million (only on telecast) (29)

45. The Bachelorette: 9.015 million (also, only one telecast) (52)

46. Apprentice 11: 8.97 million (34)

47. Law & Order; SVU: 8.84 million (53)

48. How I Met Your Mother: 8.797 million (27)

49. Rules of Engagement: 8.771 million (42)

50. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition: 8.532 million (73)

Highest ranking 18-49 show not in the top 50 overall: “The Office” at 16 18-49 but 61 overall.

Lowest ranked show: 268. Shedding for the Wedding: 1.038 million.

More stats here.