RATINGS RECAP: 10/11/10

ABC
8:00 Dancing with the Stars
Viewers: 19.5 million, 18-49 demo: 4.0
10:00 Castle
Viewers: 10.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.7

CBS
8:00 How I Met Your Mother
Viewers: 8.5 million, 18-49 demo: 3.5
8:30 Rules of Engagement
Viewers: 8.0 million, 18-49 demo: 3.0
9:00 Two and a Half Men
Viewers: 13.5 million, 18-49 demo: 4.5
9:30 Mike & Molly
Viewers: 10.7 million, 18-49 demo: 3.5
10:00 Hawaii Five-0
Viewers: 10.7 million, 18-49 demo: 3.1

NBC
8:00 Chuck
Viewers: 5.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9
9:00 The Event
Viewers: 6.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2
10:00 Chase
Viewers: 4.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5

FOX
8:00 House
Viewers: 9.7 million, 18-49 demo: 3.6
9:00 Lie to Me
Viewers: 5.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9 

Competition from a marquee NFL game and MLB playoffs was felt on Monday night as many networks saw declines to start Week 4. ABC with strong counter programming to sports did not see much of a drop. Dancing with the Stars was down very slightly in viewers and about 7% in the demo. The demo has dropped every week a bit and could dip below 4 next week. Castle was down .1 in viewers and actually rose .1 in the demo. So it was a very solid night for ABC.

CBS had some good news and some bad news. How I Met Your Mother continued to be a solid self-starter as it was off just .1 in total viewers and steady in the demo. Rules of Engagement dipped to a season low in viewers but was even in the demo. Last year, Rules was building on Mother at times but that isn't happening this season. Two and a Half Men was down nearly a million viewers but managed to stay the same in the demo, which is impressive. But there was bad news for freshman sitcom Mike & Molly. After showing growth last week, it dropped over 10% in both viewers and the demo and hit series lows. The news continued to be bad at 10pm as Hawaii Five-0 saw similar declines and also easily hit series lows. Was it the effect of football and baseball? We'll see.

NBC had more bad news for its revamped Monday lineup. Chuck was basically even from last week but The Event continued to drop as it slid another 15% in viewers and 9% in the demo. This is far from the hit NBC was hoping for and now its survival chances are in serious question. NBC has other holes to plug first but this is turning out to be a big flop. Too bad as it's a good show. Chase also fell apart and hit series lows at 10pm, also falling behind Chuck in total viewers for the first time. NBC has seen viewers strongly decline their Monday offerings.

Finally FOX had some drops as well as House hit a season low in viewers and the demo. It is not nearly the force it once was. Lie to Me was down in viewers and the demo from its season premiere last week but is still significantly performing failed 9pm occupant Lone Star. What was most affected by the big football and baseball games? It's hard to tell as CBS saw some surprising drops but NBC and FOX are the most male-skewing on the night. Next week isn't nearly as strong a Monday Night Football game so it will be interesting to see the results.