However formulaic some of them have become, detective shows remain among the most popular fare in the medium. Yahoo!TV identifies some of the top crimebusters in this season’s lineup:

– Gil Grissom, Ph.D: CSI 

– Dr. Temperance Brennan: Bones

– Ned the piemaker: Pushing Daisies

– Patrick Jane: The Mentalist

– Lilly Rush: Cold Case

– Dr. Charlie Epps: Numb3rs

– Olivia Dunham: Fringe

– Detective Robert Goren: Law & Order: Criminal Intent

– Special Agent Derek Morgan: Criminal Minds

– Detective Charlie Crews: Life

To read all about these characters, and to see a slideshow, check out Yahoo!TV.

Of the Top 10-rated programs in the 2007-08 season, six of those slots are occupied by manifestations of either Idol or Dancing. Meanwhile, the sitcom — long a staple of network programming — has all but disappeared from the face of the Nielsen ratings, with Two and a Half Men carrying the banner at No. 17 overall.

Here’s a look at the Top 10, with network and average weekly viewership in millions:

1. American Idol , Tuesdays, Fox: 28.75.

2. American Idol, Wednesdays, Fox: 27.78

3. Dancing with the Stars, Mondays, ABC: 21.67.

4. Dancing with the Stars, ABC, 19.58.

5. Dancing with the Stars, Tuesdays results show, ABC: 19.56

6. Desperate Housewives, ABC, 18.21

7. Dancing with the Stars, results shows, ABC: 18.03

8. House, Fox: 17.64

9. CSI, CBS: 16.89

10. Grey’s Anatomy, ABC: 15.62

Source: New York Times