Another you-know-what for 'True Blood'

HBO's "True Blood" is the ratings phenomenon of the summer.

Having nearly every episode of a scripted drama post a series-high rating just doesn't happen these days (especially in a program's second season).

Sunday night's "True Blood" was seen by 4.5 million viewers, up from last week's record high of 4.4 million. In cume, "True Blood" is averaging 11.4 million viewers per episode (by unfair comparison, original broadcast shows this summer are averaging about 5.5 million viewers for their debut episodes). "Hung" and "Entourage" both averaged 2.8 million.

As for Monday night's ratings, CBS won with repeats, with "Big Bang Theory" (8.6 million viewers, 2.7 preliminary adults 18-49 rating) building on "Two and a Half Men" (8.2 million, 2.6) once again. NBC was second with "Great American Road Trip" (4.5 million 1.4) unexpectedly hitting a series high, though some local NFL coverage might be skewing that number, followed by a repeat and "Dateline" (6.6 million, 1.8).

Fox aired repeats, tying ABC for third place. ABC ran "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" (7 million, 1.4), which sunk a bit, yet "Dancing in the Dark" (4.6 million, 1.8) managed to rise a tenth --

Wait, whoops. That was supposed to read "Dating in the Dark," not "Dancing in the Dark."

And yet ... you can almost see it, can't you? "Next summer ABC presents 'Dancing in the Dark,' where attractive couples perform elaborate dances in a pitch-black, obstacle-filled ballroom."

At any rate, this is the best "Dating" rating since its former strong lead-in "The Bachelorette" finished its run. "Dating" is looking like it could squeak out a renewal pickup. Meager though it may be, "Dating" does have the highest average of any new summer reality show.