CBS tops Monday; 'Dancing' most-watched show

UPDATED: Another Monday, another season high for CBS.

Despite increased competition from ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" finale, CBS' "Big Bang Theory" (10 million viewers, 3.9 national adults 18-49 rating and a 10 share) matched its season-high adult demo rating and delivered its largest audience ever. The effectively promoted "naked man" episode of "How I Met Your Mother" (10 million, 4.3/11) hit a season high in viewers. "Two and a Half Men" (15 million, 5.3/12) and "Worst Week" (10.2 million, 3.2/8) were unchanged. Coming off last week's milestone episode, "CSI: Miami" (14.1 million, 3.9/10) fell slightly.

ABC was second for the evening in the demo but was first among total viewers with part one of the "Dancing" finale (21.1 million, 4.7/12) ranking as the most-watched program of the night and second-highest rated. The final "Dancing" performance show was up from last week's episode, though down more than 20% from last year's finale. The finale helped slightly boost "Samantha Who" (10.7 million, 2.9/7), but not "Boston Legal" (8.2 million, 2.1/6).

In third, NBC aired "Chuck" (6.5 million, 2.4/7), which retained last week's gain. Earlier I wrote that “Heroes” had stayed at 3.6 the past three weeks, suggesting the show has found a new bottom. But in the nationals "Heroes" (7.5 million, 3.5/8) slipped a tenth to a new low (fewer fans watching the show live perhaps?). "My Own Worst Enemy" (3.8 million, 1.7/4) was also low.

In fourth, Fox's "Terminator" (4.6 million, 1.8/5) also fell in the nationals to a new low and "Prison Break" (5.3 million, 2.1/5) matched its low. On the CW, with "Gossip Girl" on hiatus and a "One Tree Hill" repeat in its place, the 9 p.m. "Tree" original (2.2 million, 1.1/2) dropped off slightly.

MONDAY Nov. 24, 2008 Rate/share 8-8:30 8:30-9 9-9:30 9:30-10 10-10:30 10:30-11 3.7/9 Dancing with the Stars 21.1 mil, 4.7/12 Samantha Who? 10.7 mil, 2.9/7 Boston Legal 8.2 mil, 2.1/6 4.1/10 Big Bang Theory 10 mil, 3.9/10 How I Met Your Mother 10 mil, 4.3/11 Two and a Half Men 15 mil, 5.3/12 Worst Week 10.2 mil, 3.2/8 CSI: Miami 14.1 mil, 3.9/10 2.7/7 Chuck 6.5 mil, 2.4/6 Heroes 7.5 mil, 3.5/8 My Own Worst Enemy 3.8 mil, 1.7/4 1.9/5 Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles 4.6 mil, 1.8/5 Prison Break 5.3 mil, 2.1/5 No programming 0.8/2 One Tree Hill (R) 1.4 mil, 0.6/2 One Tree Hill 2.2 mil, 1.1/2 No programming

Comments

[Stefan]

wow - you shocked me right now - there is a typo in the table. Heroes => "Heroes 12.6 mil, 4.3/10" against the 7.8 million, 3.6 in the article [[fixed, thx. charts are added by another party, but i keep my eye on 'em best i can. good to know readers are paying close attention -- JH]]

[Frodo]

GO CBS!!! So James does this make it official? Has CBS won the November sweeps in both the total number of viewers and the key demographic?!

[Stanley]

Yeah, How I Met Your Mother and Big Bang Theory deserve all the credit!!!
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