Nielsen just issued its "most popular list" for 2006. Here's what America watched the most:

Top 10 TV Programs - Regularly Scheduled - 2006
1       AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY    
2       AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY  
3       DANCING WITH THE STARS 
4       CSI       
5       DANCING W/STARS RESULTS   
6       NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL      
7       CSI: MIAMI        
8       DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES     
9       HOUSE  
10      DEAL OR NO DEAL-MON    
10      WITHOUT A TRACE    

American Idol still continues to surpass expectations, with 17.7 percent of U.S homes tuning in. Eye doesn't get it, either.

Top 10 TV Programs - Single Telecasts    
1       SUPER BOWL XL      2/5/2006       
2       SUPER BOWL POST GAME    2/5/2006        
3       ACADEMY AWARDS      3/5/2006         
4       ROSE BOWL           1/4/2006          
5       GREY'S ANATOMY      2/5/2006         
6       FOX NFC CHAMPIONSHIP     1/22/2006      
7       AMERICAN IDOL-WED            5/24/2006          
8       AMERICAN IDOL-TUES           1/24/2006          
9       AMERICAN IDOL-TUES           1/17/2006          
10     AMERICAN IDOL-TUES           3/21/2006      
  
For single telecasts, after the Super Bowl (41.6 percent of American homes), the Superbowl Post Game (29 percent), the Academy Awards (23.1 percent), and the Rose Bowl (21.7 percent), we have . . .Grey's Anatomy, the patient-as-human-bomb episode. Huh? This was by far the most ridiculous episode of the season.

Well, whatever. On to the most interesting part of the ratings, the advertiser portion. What's TV without product placement? Here are the advertisers who stuck their products in your faces the most, and what shows they did it on.

Top 10 Brands:  Product Placement   
1        COCA-COLA SOFT DRINKS  3346 (occurrences)  
2        CHEF REVIVAL APPAREL   1592   
3        NIKE APPAREL   1245   
4        24 HOUR FITNESS FITNESS CTRS-CLUBS     858    
5        CHICAGO BEARS FTBL TM  600    
6        CINGULAR WIRELESS TELEPH SVCS 532    
7        STARTER APPAREL        494    
8        DELL COMPUTER SYS      494    
9        SLS ELECTRONIC EQUIP  SPEAKERS 489    
10      NIKE SPRT FTWR 471    

And the most popular shows to place product on:

Top 10 Programs:  Product Placement       
1        AMERICAN IDOL  FOX     4086 (occurences) 
2        AMAZING RACE   CBS     2790   
3        EXTREME MAKEOVER HOME   ABC     2701   
4        THE BIGGEST LOSER      NBC     2405   
5        AMERICAS NEXT TOP MODEL   UPN/CW  2309   
6        HELLS KITCHEN  FOX     1909   
7        THE APPRENTICE NBC     1831   
8        KING OF QUEENS CBS     1742   
9        ROCK STAR SUPERNOVA    CBS     1609   
10      BIG BROTHER 7  CBS     1591   

Merry Christmas, from Nielsen.