RATINGS RECAP: 4/18/11

ABC
8:00 Dancing with the Stars
Viewers: 20.1 million, 18-49 demo: 4.0
9:30 Cougar Town
Viewers: 7.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2
10:00 20/20 Special
Viewers: 7.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7

CBS
8:00 How I Met Your Mother
Viewers: 6.5 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5
8:30 Mad Love
Viewers: 5.6 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0
9:00 Two and a Half Men (Repeat)
Viewers: 7.4 million, 18-49 demo: 2.1
9:30 Mike & Molly
Viewers: 10.0 million, 18-49 demo: 2.6
10:00 Hawaii Five-0
Viewers: 11.4 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8

NBC
8:00 Chuck
Viewers: 4.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
9:00 The Event
Viewers: 3.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1
10:00 Law & Order: LA
Viewers: 5.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1

FOX
8:00 House
Viewers: 8.8 million, 18-49 demo: 3.2
9:00 The Chicago Code
Viewers: 6.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.8

ABC was all new on Monday night with mixed results. At 8pm, Dancing with the Stars was down eight tenths in viewers and half a demo point from last week for a season low. This month has been disastrous for the demo across the board so a 4 is still solid despite the bigger than usual drop. It was followed by the return of Cougar Town, which hasn't been on since early February. Despite the huge lead-in, Cougar returned to lower numbers than it left with. This show has its audience, but there seems to be very little room for growth at this point. It returns to its regular slot on Wednesday. A 20/20 special on the Royal Wedding was old-skewing at 10pm. 


CBS had a decent Monday night but it did not start off great. At 8pm, How I Met Your Mother was down four tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo for more season lows. This show seems to be getting hit hard by Daylight Savings and the 8pm blues. At 8:30pm, Mad Love was up a tenth in viewers and the demo, posting better retention from last week. Its chances still seem slim for next season but it's not a done deal yet. Mike & Molly returned to its 9:30pm slot after a 9pm trial run last week and was up a big 2.1 million viewers but just a tenth in the demo. Returning to its regular timeslot and not airing against Dancing with the Stars helped it rebound, but the demo still seems low. At 10pm, Hawaii Five-0 also rebounded and was up 1.9 million viewers and three tenths in the demo. In fact, its total viewer numbers were its best since November 22 (not counting its Sunday airing after the AFC Championship Game).

NBC was a disaster on Monday night across the board. At 8pm, Chuck was up two tenths in viewers and even in the demo. There's no way NBC should give this cult favorite another renewal. At 9pm, The Event fell further as it was down two tenths in viewers and the demo for series lows. At this point, its loyal fans are sticking around for the conclusion and that's about it.  Keep in mind this show premiere to over 10 million viewers and a 3.6 in the demo. At 10pm, Law & Order: LA was down a million viewers and a rough four tenths in the demo from last week's two hour return, collapsing to series lows. Unlike Harry's Law, this show apparently cannot stand on its own. NBC needs to go back to the drawing board on this night. Their problem from the very beginning was leaving the weak Chuck as the lead-off to the night and the problems have only increased since then.

FOX was all new on Monday night as well. At 8pm, House was suffering from the 8pm troubles as it was down a tenth in viewers and even in the demo from last week's lows. As this show is in a precarious renewal position, these numbers aren't helping its case though a 3.2 is still solid. At 9pm, The Chicago Code was up half a million viewers and even in the demo. I still wouldn't be surprised to see this show get a midseason renewal as it has been steady for the most part this winter, sometimes against tough competition.