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NEW YORK - Contestants are disappearing as the American Idol finale approaches.

Unfortunately for Fox, so are the viewers.

The 21.8 million people who watched last Tuesday’s competition was the show’s smallest Tuesday audience in more than five years. The show did better the next night, with 22.9 million, but that was the smallest Wednesday audience in three years, according to Nielsen Media Research.

They were still the most popular programs in prime-time last week. Even though it is the May ratings “sweep,” no other show cracked the 20 million viewer mark, once considered routine for television’s top programs.

CBS’s Survivor finale, with 13 millon viewers, didn’t crack Nielsen’s top 10.

Americans also preferred to spend Mother’s Day with their own moms. NBC’s special America’s Favorite Mom, ranked No.

107 with 2.4 million viewers.

CBS was the most popular network last week, averaging 10.6 million viewers in prime-time (6.7 rating, 11 share).