RATINGS RECAP: 1/3/11

Check back later tonight or tomorrow for a review of the new reality competition Live to Dance.

ABC
8:00 The Bachelor
Viewers: 9.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.9
10:00 Castle
Viewers: 9.6 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4

CBS
8:00 How I Met Your Mother
Viewers: 10.2 million, 18-49 demo: 3.9
8:30 Rules of Engagement
Viewers: 9.8 million, 18-49 demo: 3.4
9:00 Two and a Half Men 
Viewers: 15.4 million, 18-49 demo: 4.7
9:30 Mike & Molly
Viewers: 12.4 million, 18-49 demo: 3.7
10:00 Hawaii Five-0 
Viewers: 11.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.9

NBC
8:00 Chuck (Repeat)
Viewers: 2.5 million, 18-49 demo: 0.7
9:00 The Biggest Loser: Where Are They Now?
Viewers: 2.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0

FOX
8:00 House (Repeat)
Viewers: 4.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
9:00 Lie to Me (Repeat)
Viewers: 3.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1  

ABC has finally returned to competing on Monday nights again with the season premiere of the veteran reality dating show The Bachelor. It was down in viewers and demo from its year-ago premiere. Last year, it rose in Week 2 and if it does so again, ABC will continue to have an adequate filler in-between the fall and spring installments of Dancing with the Stars. At 10pm, Castle was up a strong 2 million viewers and half a demo point from its last original airing. But the last airing was out of a weak repeat lead-in. These numbers are still below what it was pulling when it aired after Dancing in the fall. Considering the state of ABC dramas, this is doing fine but it would be nice to see it not be so lead-in dependent.

CBS with an all-new lineup clearly benefited from repeats on FOX/NBC and no more Monday Night Football on ESPN. At 8pm, How I Met Your Mother was up five tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo to post season highs in both categories. This show is doing a great job as the Monday night lead-off for CBS. Rules of Engagement followed and was up two tenths in viewers and the demo, also posting season highs. If it can hold up when it moves to Thursdays in February, a renewal for this always on-the-bubble show is likely. Two and a Half Men dominated at 9pm as it was up a strong 1.7 million viewers and half a demo point. The viewer total is a season high and a very impressive number. Mike & Molly followed and was up four tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo which is good but not great considering how strong its lead-in was. Finally, Hawaii Five-0 was up a tenth in viewers and the demo which is still somewhat low. CBS will give this show more exposure by airing it directly after the AFC Championship Game on January 23. NBC and FOX populated the night with low-rated reruns.