CBS’ Monday lineup provided the network with a mixed bag of success–the shows generally performed strongly, but the roster is not without room for improvement.
“How I Met Your Mother” improved on its premiere to open the night with a 3.8 adults 18-49 rating and 8.97 million viewers; it actually defeated FOX’s “House” in its timeslot in a rare feat. Lead-out “Rules of Engagement” followed with a 3.2 and 8.14 million viewers; while the performance was not terrible, it is interesting to note that “Rules” is not yet reaping any clear benefit from “Mother”‘s resurgence.
Flagship CBS comedy “Two and a Half Men” was predictably strong with a 4.8 and 13.87 million viewers, while lead-out freshman “Mike & Molly” fell a modest 5% to a 3.7 rating with 11.21 million viewers. A show will always be criticized for dropping relative to its lead-in support (and losing 23% of the lead-in from a very similarly-styled comedy is quite disappointing in and of itself), but it is hard to fault a new series that only turns away 5% from its premiere.
“Hawaii 5-0,” meanwhile, continues to lack the anticipated spark. While its 3.5 adults 18-49 rating technically only meant a drop of 8% from last week’s premiere and is thus solid for a new series, its failure to dominate the timeslot is telling. “5-0” was intended to revitalize the 10PM slot in the wake of “CSI: Miami”‘s cooling off last year, yet with a 3.5 rating and 12.34 million viewers in just its second week, “Hawaii 5-0” hardly represents a hot alternative.
The series still benefits the network since it can now use the reliable “Miami” to bolster the Sunday lineup, but hopes were definitely higher for “5-0.”