iCarly‘s hour-long special ‘iDate a Bad Boy,’ which aired on May 9 at 8 p.m. on Nickelodeon US, took the top basic cable spot among entertainment and sports programming, even ahead of the NBA playoffs game on Wednesday, May 6.

The show drew 6.5 million total viewers, up 183% in delivery over last year’s time period, also ranking as the week’s top telecast on basic cable with kids and tweens, and as a first with total viewers.

In the kids two to 11 crowd, iCarly averaged a 9.5/3.3 million, up 164% in rating and 174% in delivery over last year’s time period. With the six to 11 set, it averaged a 12.9/2.7 million, up 187% in rating and delivery.

Tween ratings were going strong with 12.8/2.8 million for the nine to 14 demo, up 246% in rating and 250% in delivery.

As for Nickelodeon’s other programs, The Penguins of Madagascar is currently the number-two animated show with kids and total viewers, behind SpongeBob SquarePants for the quarter to date. On Saturday, May 9, at 10 a.m. The Penguins of Madagascar delivered more than 2 million kids two to 11.