“How I Met Your Mother,” “Big Bang Theory” Hit Ratings Highs

The combination of rave reviews for last week’s “Playbook” episode and high hopes for Monday’s sequel to 2007’s classic “Slapsgiving” special drove “How I Met Your Mother” to a season ratings high.

With 8.8 million viewers and a 3.7/10 adults 18-49 rating, the numbers, though not spectacular, brought “How I Met” to a season high just days after young-skewing comedies like “The Office,” “30 Rock” and “Family Guy” continued their viewership declines. The “How I Met” buzz also helped leadout “Accidentally on Purpose” jump 14% to a 3.2/8 rating with 7.9 million viewers.

9PM standout “Two and a Half Men” was steady with a 4.7/12 and 13.9 million viewers, while breakout “The Big Bang Theory” followed with a series-high 14.2 million viewers and 5.2/13 young adults rating. “CSI: Miami” did a 3.7/10 with 13.2 million viewers.

Benefiting from a strong number for the “Dancing with the Stars” finale (20.5 million, 4.1/10 adults 18-49 number), new series “Find My Family” debuted with a decent 2.9/7 rating and 12.9 million viewers. “Castle” wrapped ABC’s night up with 10.5 million viewers and a 2.7/7 demo rating.

FOX’s steady lineup of “House” (11.9 million, 4.5/12) and “Lie to Me” (7.3 million, 2.7/7) was in its usual range, while NBC’s struggling Monday lineup continued its string of poor performances. “Heroes” did 5.2 million viewers and a 2.3/6 rating, while “Trauma,” in the wake of news that it, despite having previously been reported as cancelled, scored an additional three episodes, hit a series low 1.6/4 rating with 5.3 million viewers. “The Jay Leno Show” did a 1.4/4 with 4.5 million viewers.

Sources: Nielsen, MediaWeek, THR