Entertainment

About 22 million people caught the crowning of the latest white guy with guitar to be crowned “American Idol” winner Wednesday night — about 7 million fewer viewers than last May. The plunge was similar among 18-49 year olds who are the currency of Fox’s ad sales.

 This is the singing competition finale’s smallest numbers to date on both counts, including even the very first edition when “Idol” aired in the summer, of 2002.

It is not, however, the biggest ratings tumble an “Idol” finale has ever taken.

Phillip Phillips becomes the fifth consecutive super-safe white guy with guitar to win “American Idol.” Here’s how it happens:

The finale opens at the Nokia Theater in downtown Los Angeles, with the Idolette finalists in a group sing of “Runaway Baby” by Bruno Mars. They’re all dressed in white suits, like this is a vision of heaven, the “Idol” Afterlife. Joshua Ledet tries a split, but falls over; someone behind him helps him off the stage.

Time for the judges to make their final Judges’ Entrance of the season. Steven Tyler is dressed as an eggplant-colored leather couch. Randy Jackson is wearing a robin’s egg blue Captain Kangaroo suit. And Jennifer Lopez looks lovely in her designer shrink-wrap. Show host Ryan Seacrest is looking very dapper in his tux.

CBS can call itself the country’s most-watched network for the ninth time in the past 10 years.

The network won the 2011-12 television season, which ended Wednesday, by averaging nearly 12 million viewers each week. That’s about 3 million more viewers than closest competitor Fox, the largest margin of victory of any network in more than two decades.

America continued to be passionate about reality competition series this season, although there are signs of wear and tear in the relationship. Half the country’s 10 most-watched programs this season were reality competition shows, including two nights each of “American Idol” and “Dancing With the Stars,” and NBC’s “The Voice.”

But both “Idol” and “Dancing” took major hits. ABC’s “Dancing” fumbled about 4 million viewers compared with last season, and Fox’s “Idol” lost about 6 million.

Donald Driver and Peta Murgatroyd with the Mirror Ball Trophy (Adam Taylor - ABC)

About 17.8 million people tuned in Tuesday night to see football player Donald Driver and his partner Peta Murgatroyd waltz off with the hideous-yet-coveted Mirror Ball Trophy on “Dancing With the Stars,

That’s about 1.5 million fewer people than watched war veteran/actor J.R. Martinez and Karina Smirnoff take home the prize on the finale last fall. And it’s about 4 million fewer people than who watched the previous spring edition — about 21.4 million — when Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward and Kym Johnson were crowned champions.

Donald Driver and Peta Murgatroyd, champions of Season 14. (Adam Taylor - ABC) Did a country-themed routine and a rapping cowboy just help pave the way for the new “Dancing With the Stars” winner?

Well, that’s our theory and we’re sticking to it. A day after wowing the judges with a wildly entertaining, country western-themed freestyle on performance night, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver was named the champion of Season 14.

A somewhat surprising win, given that Donald had just started to really pick up steam in recent weeks — particularly with Monday night’s flawless freestyle, featuring music by rapping Cowboy Troy.

Of course, athletes are known to do extremely well on the show. Donald is the third football player to win the competition. And he definitely wins for best reaction to the news: As soon as Tom Bergeron announced Donald and his partner, Peta Murgatroyd, had won, Donald immediately started running around the ballroom and joyfully rolling on the floor.