Dr. House is Mr. Popularity

June 12, 5:35 PMNY Entertainment ExaminerKevin Fallon

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Mr. Grouch becomes Mr. Popular

According to Eurodata TV Worldwide, House is the most watched television show on the globe, beating out former first placers CSI and CSI: Miami.  It's suprising that these shows are so popular (House has more than 81.8 million viewers in 66 countries) considering Hugh Laurie or David Caruso aren't quite the international superstars that say Patrick Dempsey of Grey's Anatomy or Matthew Fox from Lost are.  But the procedural format of these shows are easy to translate internationally, and the lack of soapy continuing storylines in series like the CSIs make them prime for one-off viewings.

On the comedy side, the divas of Desperate Housewives connived their way to world domination, upping other suprising international hits Monk and Ugly Betty, which aren't even that highly rated in the United States.  (Truth be told, I forgot that Monk was still on TV...)  65.3 milliion viewers caught the MILFs in action in 2008.

Are you surprised by these international successes?  House and CSI are ratings juggernauts back here in the US, but Monk has been away from the watercooler for years now and Betty barely weaseled out of cancellation this year.  Even grouchy Dr. House himself should be humbled by this news.