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
