RATINGS RECAP: 11/7/11

ABC
8:00 Dancing with the Stars
Viewers: 18.2 million, 18-49 demo: 3.4
10:00 Castle
Viewers: 11.1 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4

CBS
8:00 How I Met Your Mother
Viewers: 10.3 million, 18-49 demo: 4.4
8:30 2 Broke Girls
Viewers: 11.4 million, 18-49 demo: 4.6
9:00 Two and a Half Men
Viewers: 14.7 million, 18-49 demo: 5.2
9:30 Mike & Molly
Viewers: 11.9 million, 18-49 demo: 4.2
10:00 Hawaii Five-0
Viewers: 10.3 million, 18-49 demo: 3.1

NBC
8:00 The Sing Off
Viewers: 4.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
10:00 Rock Center with Brian Williams
Viewers: 3.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.0

FOX
8:00 Terra Nova
Viewers: 7.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.6
9:00 House
Viewers: 7.6 million, 18-49 demo: 2.8

CBS continues to rule the roost on Monday nights with arguably the most successful top to bottom lineup of any network on any night. At 8pm, How I Met Your Mother was down two tenths in viewers but up the same in the demo from last week's Halloween episode. The demo is the best number since October 3 and it remains nicely up year-to-year. At 8:30pm, 2 Broke Girls was up four tenths in viewers and a nice three tenths in the demo, hitting its best demo number since its time period debut in September. Many new shows are making an impact but this is without question the biggest new hit of the new year. At 9pm, Two and a Half Men rebounded again as it was up eight tenths in viewers and a big half a demo point. This show has been up and down recently but over a 5 in the demo is very very impressive. At 9:30pm, Mike & Molly was up four tenths in viewers and also half a demo point as it is also up nicely year-to-year but still lead-in dependent. Finally at 10pm, Hawaii Five-0 was down three tenths in viewers but up a tenth in the demo as it continues to beat Castle for the demo win week in and out.

FOX seems to be getting back into its groove after the World Series preemptions and Halloween last Monday. At 8pm, Terra Nova was up 1.2 million viewers and half a demo point. This is a nice rebound after last week's troubling numbers. It still is hard to tell if FOX will commit to another season with these numbers but it's not falling apart or soaring which makes their decision harder. At 9pm, House was up nine tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo. Rumor has it that the fate of House will be decided in the next couple days so the writers can prepare for a finale if necessary. My guess is that Hugh Laurie will want to stop and FOX will agree with the producers to make this the final season with the ratings clearly on a downward trend. 

Meanwhile on ABC, Dancing with the Stars started off the night up a nice 1.9 million viewers and six tenths in the demo from last week's 90 minute episode. It should build next week ahead of the finale week that follows. At 10pm, Castle was down 1.5 million viewers and three tenths in the demo despite the lead-in being up. It's seeming like this show is becoming more and more independent of its lead-in ratings. Maybe it's time to move it somewhere else? NBC was in trouble as usual. The Sing Off was down a tenth in viewers but up a tenth in the demo. At 10pm, week two of Rock Center with Brian Williams was down six tenths in viewers and even in the demo. This isn't working at all for NBC. When The Playboy Club has been the best option for this slot this season, you know NBC is in trouble.