RATINGS RECAP: 5/2/11

ABC
8:00 Dancing with the Stars
Viewers: 21.4 million, 18-49 demo: 4.5
10:00 Castle
Viewers: 12.1 million, 18-49 demo: 2.9

CBS
8:00 How I Met Your Mother
Viewers: 6.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8
8:30 Mad Love
Viewers: 5.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2
9:00 Two and a Half Men (Repeat)
Viewers: 7.7 million, 18-49 demo: 2.2
9:30 Mike & Molly
Viewers: 8.2 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4
10:00 Hawaii Five-0
Viewers: 9.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.5

NBC
8:00 Chuck
Viewers: 4.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4
9:00 The Event
Viewers: 4.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
10:00 Law & Order: LA
Viewers: 4.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.4

FOX
8:00 House
Viewers: 8.6 million, 18-49 demo: 2.9
9:00 The Chicago Code
Viewers: 5.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6

ABC was all new on Monday night starting, of course, with Dancing with the Stars which was down a million viewers and two tenths in the demo. The competition was stiffer this week but it is surprising that it did not go up with the finale nearing as it usually does. Plus, it had the highly rated 9:30pm half hour back this week so this overall numbers is somewhat surprising but still strong. At 10pm, Castle was down two tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo from its last new airing three weeks ago but it still handily won the 10pm hour over Hawaii Five-0 which is good news for the ABC drama. 

CBS's Monday lineup continues to be lackluster without the tentpole show Two and a Half Men, whose status for next season is still uncertain. At 8pm, How I Met Your Mother was up three tenths in viewers and the demo from its last new airing two weeks ago. While the bounce was good, it's still way below what it was getting earlier in the season. At 8:30pm, Mad Love was up two tenths in viewers and the demo. This is the third straight week the demo has been up or flat which is good after lots of declines. It may still have a fighting chance left but remains unlikely to be renewed. After a Two and a Half Men rerun, Mike & Molly was down a big 1.8 million viewers and two tenths in the demo from its last new airing two weeks ago, hitting a series low in the demo. This show was on an upward trajectory before Two and a Half Men's problems took the training wheels off it before it was ready to go solo. At 10pm, Hawaii Five-0 was down 1.6 million viewers and three tenths in the demo. The demo ties a season low as the show was not very competitive for the time period win.

NBC had another problematic Monday night. At 8pm, Chuck was down a tenth in viewers but up a tenth in the demo. If NBC wants to turn things around next season, they shouldn't keep renewing niche cult favorites like this. Neither the total viewers or demo should make them think otherwise. At 9pm, The Event was down half a million viewers and even in the demo with last week as it marches on towards inevitable cancellation. At 10pm, Law & Order: LA was down nine tenths in viewers but up a tenth in the demo. It has gone up in the demo for a second straight week but it still remains very low since its return. 

FOX was all new as its Monday lineup has been slipping recently. At 8pm, House was down two tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo from its last new airing for season lows. This show has struggled a lot this spring and it was already down in the fall. At one point this season, this show got low 4s in the demo. At 9pm, The Chicago Code was down eight tenths in viewers and two tenths in the demo for season lows. This show is falling at the wrong time and it's bubble status seems to be getting worse and worse especially with limited spots available for FOX fall.