Emmy Ratings: Neil Patrick Harris Delivers 7-Year High

Neil Patrick Harris is good for business!

The 65th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards' three-hour telecast, hosted by the "How I Met Your Mother" star, attracted 17.3 million viewers and a 4.3 demo rating, the show's largest audience since 2005, and its best demo rating since Conan O'Brien hosted in 2006 . Harris even bested himself as the 2009 telecast, which he hosted, only brought in 13.3 million viewers.

Compared to the Jimmy Kimmel-hosted 2012 Emmys, this year's show was up 33 percent in viewers and 26 percent in the all-important demo. Of course, Harris did receive some help in his quest for ratings domination.

VIDEO: Watch Neil Patrick Harris' opening number from th big show

Helping Harris out? Four former Emmy hosts! Kimmel, O'Brien, Jane Lynch and Jimmy Fallon all made appearances during the Dr. Horrible star's opener.

To compare numbers, Lynch's 2011 telecast attracted 12.4 million viewers and 4.2 rating, while Fallon brought in 13.5 million viewers and a 4.1 demo rating in 2010.

But even though ratings were up, it seems not everyone enjoyed the 2013 Emmys. Piers Morgan tweeted, "Zzzzzzzz (again) #Emmys," while Bachelor ghost Chris Harrison said, "#CBS is killing it tonight, no seriously you're killing the #Emmys." Ouch!

PHOTOS: Check out which stars are snapping Twitpics at the 2013 Emmys!

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