Best Monday for CBS since premiere week as 'Mother' hits season high

"To 'Wooo! Girls' "

UPDATED: CBS had its strongest Monday night since premiere week, with "How I Met Your Mother" hitting a season high.

Though lead-in "The Big Bang Theory" (9.8 million viewers, 3.8  adults 18-49 rating) was down slightly from last week's series-high spike, "How I Met Your Mother" (10 million, 4.4) jumped to its best rating this fall. CBS has been thrilled with "Mother" this season, noting the comedy was higher rated last week than NBC's comedy tentpole "The Office."

At 9 p.m., "Two and a Half Men" (15.2 million, 5.3) grew 8% to match its season high and "Worst Week" (10.4 million, 3.2) was up 14% to its best number in a few weeks. "CSI: Miami" (15.5 million, 4.2) continues to recover significant ground after weeks of drops. Last night's 150th episode was up 14% to its best number since September. 

ABC was second in the demo, but was the most-watched network among total viewers. "Dancing With the Stars" (19.6 million, 4.3) was up slightly. "Samantha Who" (10.2 million, 3.0) and "Boston Legal" (8.1 million, 2.1) were on par.

"Chuck" (6.9 million, 2.6) climbed 8% to its largest total viewer audience since its premiere. "Heroes" (7.7 million, 3.6) was flat, matching last week's series low, and so was "My Own Worst Enemy" (3.9 million, 1.8 -- losing this morning's preliminary rating's tenth-of-a-point gain in the nationals).

Fourth-place Fox's "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" (5.1 million, 1.9) slipped a tenth and "Prison Break" (5.5 million, 2.2) was even.

Overall, last night represents a slight viewership gain compared to last Monday. Yet if there’s a post-election rising tide, it didn’t seem to float the CW. "Gossip Girl" (2.9 million, 1.4) was down slightly in the adult demo, though up a tick in young women. "One Tree Hill" (2.7 million, 1.3) fell 19% in the demo.

(Note: Chart still reflects this morning's prelims).

MONDAY Nov. 17, 2008 Rate/share 8-8:30 8:30-9 9-9:30 9:30-10 10-10:30 10:30-11 3.4/8 Dancing With the Stars 19.7 mil, 4.2/10 Samantha Who? 11.1 mil, 3.0/7 Boston Legal 8.4 mil, 2.2/6 4.1/10 Big Bang Theory 9.7 mil, 3.7/10 How I Met Your Mother 9.8 mil, 4.3/10 Two and a Half Men 15.2 mil, 5.3/12 Worst Week 10.4 mil, 3.2/7 CSI: Miami 15.4 mil, 4.2/11 2.7/7 Chuck 6.8 mil, 2.6/7 Heroes 7.6 mil, 3.6/8 My Own Worst Enemy 4.0 mil, 1.9/5 2.1/5 Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles 5.3 mil, 2.0/4 Prison Break 5.9 mil, 2.3/5 No programming 1.4/3 Gossip Girl 2.9 mil, 1.4/4 One Tree Hill 2.7 mil, 1.3/3 No programming