NBC's limping to close in prime-time TV season

NBC is limping to the close of the prime-time TV season. Only one of the network's shows, "Law & Order: SVU," finished among the 25 most-watched shows last week, ranking No. 16, according to Nielsen Media Research. "Shark," a drama that CBS is canceling, was seen by more people last week than any other NBC show but "SVU."

The network's prime-time average of 5.5 million viewers last week, was just more than half of first-place CBS' average.

The showing during a ratings "sweeps" month points to the challenge NBC has in the next few months. One advantage is the network's coverage of the Summer Olympics in China, …