Monday ratings summary: Big opening nights for “House,” “Big Bang Theory”; “Dancing with Stars,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “CSI: Miami,” “Two and a Half Men” are solid but unspectacular; “Heroes,” “The Jay Leno Show,” “Gossip Girl” struggle
The anticipated season premiere of “House” gave FOX the ratings victory as the 2009-10 television season officially kicked off. The critically-acclaimed medical drama was second in viewers (16.5 million) and far-and-away first in adults 18-49 (6.5). ABC’s powerhouse rival “Dancing with the Stars” was down for its latest season premiere (4.1 in adults 18-49), but with 17.5 million viewers, it was still the night’s most-watched program.
“The Big Bang Theory” benefitted greatly from its new positioning after “Two and a Half Men.” With 12.8 million viewers and a 4.6 in adults 18-49, it actually beat its lead-in in the key demographic (“Men” posted a 4.4) and was only slightly behind in total viewers (13.3 million for “Men”).
“How I Met Your Mother” held up fine in its return to 8PM (9.2 million, 3.5 in adults 18-49), while the series premiere of “Accidentally on Purpose” did well from a lead-in retention perspective (9 million, 3.2 in 18-49) but did not show much “sandwich” effect benefit by virtue of having “Mother” and “Men” as bookends.
“CSI: Miami” fell to 13.7 million viewers and a 4.3 demographic rating in its latest season premiere.
“Castle,” which followed “Dancing,” was lukewarm with 9.4 million viewers and a 2.3 demographic rating. It nonetheless dominated fellow 10PM series “The Jay Leno Show,” which took a major tumble on NBC. With a terrible “Heroes” lead-in (6 million, 2.7), “Leno” fell to a series low 5.7 million viewers with a 1.8 in adults 18-49. Of programs on the four major networks, “Leno” scored the lowest 18-49 rating.
Predictably, The CW’s “One Tree Hill” (2.5 million, 1.2) and “Gossip Girl” (2.1 million, 1.1) failed to register.
