The eighth season continued to see declines in the series ' ratings . The season premiered to 9.93 million viewers and a 3.2 in the demo making it the least watched season premiere in the series ' history . The season began with ratings similar to those of the latter half of season 7 , averaging 8 – 9 million viewers , and between a 2.8 to 3.0 in the 18 – 49 demographic . However , after the mid-season finale the ratings returned lower , hitting the seven million viewer mark and a 2.2 – 2.5 in the demo . The season also saw the lowest ratings in the show 's eight-year run . Opposite the 54th Annual Grammy Awards , which featured a tribute to the then-recently deceased entertainer Whitney Houston , and the mid-season premiere of '' The Walking Dead '' on AMC , the show fell to a 1.8 rating in adults 18 – 49 and 6.4 million viewers . However unlike the seventh season , the show 's ratings slightly recovered after the series low and leveled around the eight million viewer mark and a 2.6 in the demo . Despite the series lows , the season finale was able to go out on a season high in the ratings and the highest rated episode in over a year and a half , since March 2011 with " Searching " . The series finale titled " Finishing the Hat " aired May 13 , 2012 was viewed by 11.12 million viewers and a 3.2 in the demo . Despite the lows in the ratings the show managed to remain in the top twenty-five watched shows in the 18 – 49 demographic , placing at number twenty-five . However , the show dropped out of the top thirty most-watched shows in total viewers , coming in at thirty-fifth place
54th Annual Grammy Awards
54th Annual Grammy Awards
Desperate Housewives