RATINGS RECAP: 3/21/11

ABC
8:00 Dancing with the Stars
Viewers: 22.7 million, 18-49 demo: 5.3
10:00 Castle
Viewers: 12.0 million, 18-49 demo: 3.1 

CBS
8:00 How I Met Your Mother
Viewers: 8.0 million, 18-49 demo: 3.0
8:30 Mad Love
Viewers: 6.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4
9:00 Two and a Half Men (Repeat)
Viewers: 9.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.7
9:30 Mike & Molly
Viewers: 9.7 million, 18-49 demo: 3.0
10:00 Hawaii Five-0
Viewers: 10.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.9

NBC
8:00 Chuck
Viewers: 4.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
9:00 The Event
Viewers: 4.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2
10:00 Harry's Law
Viewers: 8.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6

FOX
8:00 House
Viewers: 9.5 million, 18-49 demo: 3.4
9:00 The Chicago Code
Viewers: 6.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8

ABC was back on top in a big way on Monday night thanks to the return of Dancing with the Stars. Despite a less buzzworthy cast from the media's perspective, Dancing actually had a better debut from last fall with very impressive numbers. It could overtake American Idol as the highest rated (in total viewers) show of the week. This show will help ABC on Monday and Tuesday through the rest of the season. It was followed by a new Castle which benefited and was up a big 1.9 million viewers and three tenths in the demo from its last new airing three weeks ago. Those are both season highs for Castle which can be very up and down based on the lead-in. Still, it was an impressive time period win for ABC's drama.

CBS took a hit against the increased ABC competition. At 8pm, How I Met Your Mother was down 1.2 million viewers and four tenths in the demo from its last new airing three weeks ago, sinking to season lows. New sitcom Mad Love followed and was even in viewers but up three tenths in the demo. The lead-in was up significantly though from last week's repeat so this small rise shouldn't be looked at as a promising performance. This has been a weak link on CBS's Monday lineup so far. After a Two and a Half Men repeat, Mike & Molly was down a rough 1.7 million viewers and four tenths in the demo from its last new airing for series lows. Last time, its lead-in (though still a repeat) was much stronger. It appears this show isn't ready to stand on its own yet. Finally at 10pm, Hawaii Five-0 was down half a million viewers but actually up a tenth in the demo. The viewer total is a series low but the growth in the demo with a weaker lead-in and against tougher ABC competition is worth noting.

NBC had a very low rated night to no one's surprise. At 8pm, Chuck sunk seven tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo for season lows. This show is still on the bubble, but there's no way it should be with these numbers. At 9pm, The Event was down two tenths in viewers for series lows but even in the demo. This show is toast, but did the producers and writers come up with an ending to the storyline? Finally at 10pm, Harry's Law continued to perk up the lineup but was down a rough 1.8 million viewers and two tenths in the demo for series lows. The stronger Castle and terrible lead-ins hurt this show, which is still a self starter for low rated NBC.


FOX was down with both shows as well against the tougher competition. At 8pm, House was down nine tenths in viewers but just a tenth in the demo. The show has been on a downward ratings trend for years but FOX can't seem to develop new successful dramas and the demo is still strong for House. At 9pm, The Chicago Code was down 1.1 million viewers but also just a tenth in the demo. Both are series lows however as this drama was showing some promising steadiness but is now starting to slip.