 The audience numbers (11.25 million viewers) for the June 5, 2006 fifth-season finale were not factored in the fifth season average because it aired after the official television season ended.The audience numbers for the show steadily declined following the first season.Originally, NBC aired the sixth season of "The Apprentice", competing against both immensely popular series, "Desperate Housewives" and "Cold Case", just a few weeks before competing against "Brothers & Sisters" and "Cold Case".