RATINGS RECAP: 11/15/10

ABC
8:00 Dancing with the Stars
Viewers: 20.7 million, 18-49 demo: 4.0
9:30 The Middle (Repeat)
Viewers: 9.6 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2
10:00 Castle
Viewers: 10.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5

CBS
8:00 How I Met Your Mother
Viewers: 8.9 million, 18-49 demo: 3.6
8:30 Rules of Engagement
Viewers: 7.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.9
9:00 Two and a Half Men
Viewers: 14.3 million, 18-49 demo: 4.5
9:30 Mike & Molly
Viewers: 12.1 million, 18-49 demo: 3.7
10:00 Hawaii Five-0
Viewers: 10.3 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8

NBC
8:00 Chuck 
Viewers: 5.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8
9:00 The Event
Viewers: 5.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7
10:00 Chase
Viewers: 4.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2

FOX
8:00 House
Viewers: 10.8 million, 18-49 demo: 4.0
9:00 Lie to Me
Viewers: 5.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9

ABC had another successful Monday. In its next-to-last week, Dancing with the Stars was up seven tenths in viewers and even in the demo last week as it continued to dominate. With Dancing only an hour and a half this week, ABC chose to showcase The Middle with a repeat of last season's finale. It actually scored a series high in total viewers despite being rerun a couple times in the summer after last May's original airing. This is a great number for a rerun and may give more exposure to the growing Wednesday hit. Castle followed and was down nearly a million viewers but even in the demo. This is good news for a show that has benefited from solid lead-ins for most of its run. Despite a season low in total viewers, it didn't drop much from last week when it had a much stronger lead-in.

CBS had a mixed bag on Monday night with its usual lineup. How I Met Your Mother was even in viewers and up a tenth in the demo from last week but Rules of Engagement was down three tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo, tying season lows in both categories. This show just isn't holding its own in CBS's powerful Monday lineup. Two and a Half Men remained the standout as it was up seven tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo. Mike & Molly benefited from not competing with Dancing with the Stars and was up over a million viewers and two tenths in the demo. The total viewer numbers is the best since the show's third week and it should continue to benefit now that it won't be competing with Dancing until March. Hawaii Five-0 did not have as much luck though as it was up a tenth in viewers but down a tenth in the demo, tying a series low. It will be interesting to see how it does in January when it is no longer competing with Monday Night Football and has female-skewing shows on CBS and NBC.

NBC had another low-rated Monday evening. Chuck returned from a week off but was down a tenth in viewers and two tenths in the demo, hitting a season low in that category. The Event followed and was up a tenth in viewers and even in the demo. Who would have imagined that The Event would be pulling a lower demo than Chuck by November? Finally, Chase was even in viewers and the demo from last week. No further drops is good but it's still embarrassingly low. NBC will bench The Event for two months and send Chase to Wednesdays at 9 in January to make room for new dramas The Cape and Harry's Law.

Finally FOX saw gains for both its dramas. House was up impressively - over a million viewers and three tenths in the demo for its best numbers in over a month. Lie to Me followed and was up seven tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo. The total viewer number ties a season best with the season premiere. This is welcome news for a FOX Monday that has been disappointing all season.