9/21/2009

in

The actor gave a ratings spike to a second awards show this year.

Tom Helberg

[![61st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards - Show](http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/c/3/5/0/61st_Annual_Primetime_ac0d.jpg?adImageId=3273800&imageId=6558323)](http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=emmy awards 2009 neil patrick harris&iid=6558323)


Neil Patrick Harris gave the Emmy Awards a much-needed boost, much like he did for the Tony Awards earlier this year.  
  
Sunday's telecast on CBS bounced back from last year's all-time low ratings, rising 8 percent to a total of 13.3 million viewers. Harris, who stars on the CBS sitcom, "How I Met Your Mother," earned rave reviews as host.  
  
USA Today said the Emmy show "ranks up there with the best."  
  
Harris opened the ceremony with a comedic song called "Put Down the Remote," and the program was full of jokes and asides about the growing audience for the Internet over television, [Reuters](http://www.reuters.com/article/industryNews/idUSTRE58K3KM20090921) reports.  
  
Harris gave the Tony Awards a 19 percent spike in ratings when he hosted it earlier this year, the [AP](http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hyJbhff5iMaYH8EU2e-WbovbFlwQD9ARVOOG1) reports.  
  
Even though around one million more viewers watched the Emmys this year, NBC's broadcast of the Dallas Cowboys-New York Giants football game ruled the night with around 65 percent more viewers.  
  
Top Emmy awards went to "Mad Men" for best drama, and "30 Rock" for best comedy.