Creatively, the post-Charlie Sheen “Two and a Half Men” seems to be finding some rhythm, but it has yet to truly stabilize in the ratings.
Continuing its downward trend, the show sank again to a 5.2 adults 18-49 rating with 14.9 million viewers. While up from last season’s corresponding episode and enough to give the CBS sitcom the nightly victory in the demo, it does reflect the fact that some are still yet to cement their interest in the new Ashton Kutcher version of the show.
Certainly, the fact that the show is still above a 5.0 in the demo suggests that the show can continue to flourish without original star Charlie Sheen on the screen. It remains a dominant hit and is beyond an asset to the CBS lineup.
But given how hot comedy has been this season (legitimate hits emerged in “New Girl” and “2 Broke Girls,” while “Last Man Standing” started strong and “Modern Family” and “How I Met Your Mother” are performing at their best levels to date) and how many were willing to give the new “Men” a chance, it is a bit discouraging to see the show still on a downward trend. Maybe those who tuned in for the first and second weeks had absolutely no intention of becoming regular viewers, but certainly all of those from the past two weeks could have been “retainable.”
Granted, even if the show’s “stable” point ends up being 25-30% below the current levels, the Kutcher casting decision was still a great call.
Earlier in the night, “How I Met Your Mother” showed minor improvement with a 4.1 adults 18-49 rating and 9.8 million viewers, while lead-out “2 Broke Girls” remains one of the fall’s hottest new properties with a 4.3 and 11.3 million viewers.
“Mike & Molly,” which followed “Men,” was good for a 3.9 and 11.6 million viewers. “Hawaii 5-0” followed with a solid 3.1 and 10.9 million.