CBS laughs approach to Monday victory

CBS wasn't any. 1 broadcaster in key demos in many six half-several hours of primetime Monday, since the net's comedy anchors ''How I Met Your Mother'' and ''Two . 5 Men'' still outshine last year's ratings levels. ABC's ''Dancing While using Stars'' was growing, though still lower year upon year, nevertheless it was another weak showing for NBC's new John Williams newsmag. According to preliminary Nielsen estimations, the CBS comedies taken care of for Monday's top four entertainment-series scores among teens, introduced of course by ''Two . 5 Men'' (5.1 rating/12 participate grownups 18-49, 14.5 million audiences overall) -- the night's No. 1 broadcast in 18-49, rising 19% versus. the identical evening this past year. All of the network's programs were up versus. the comparable Monday timeslot perf of a year ago, with 8 p.m. anchor ''How I Met Your Mother'' (4.4/12 in 18-49, 10.4 million audiences overall) up 25% over its year-ago showing, and 8:30 p.m. newbie ''2 Broke Girls'' (4.5/11 in 18-49, 11.3 million audiences overall) up a sizable 50% over last year's ''Rules of Engagement.'' Closing the evening, ''Mike and Molly'' (4.2/10 in 18-49, 12. million audiences overall) was up 20% over its year-ago score, and 10 p.m. drama ''Hawaii Five-0'' (3./8 in 18-49, 10. million audiences overall) was up a tick to merely top its broadcast competition in demos for your hour. At ABC, ''Dancing While using Stars'' (3.3/8 in 18-49, 18. million audiences overall) rallied towards the best delivery since its season premiere, but which left it about 15% below last year's performance round the comparable evening it ongoing to become the evening's most-seen entertainment series overall. At 10, ''Castle'' (2.5/6 in 18-49, 11.3 million audiences overall) was in line with its performance of a year ago, also leading its timeslot broadcast competition in general audiences. Fox's ''Terra Nova'' (2.6/6 in 18-49, 7.7 million audiences overall) came back back from the other day to place third among the tv producers inside the 8 o'clock hour. The web maintained that waiting for 9 p.m. with ''House'' (2.7/6 in 18-49, 7.5 million audiences overall), which was substantially more effective this past year inside the leadoff position (3.7/10 in 18-49). NBC again fought, as ''The Sing Off'' settled for just about any 1.4/3 in 18-49 and 4.2 million audiences overall, and newsmag ''Rock Center with John Williams'' (1./3 in 18-49, 3.5 million audiences overall) was on componen having its low-rated debut in the previous week. ESPN will win the evening in key demos having its ''Monday Evening Football'' game involving the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles, which averaged a effective 11.7 household rating in Nielsen's metered-market overnights. Furthermore for the cable internet, the sport also broadcast from your areas on independent stations, thus not affecting the preliminary overnights in the Large Four. Preliminary 18-49 earnings for your evening: CBS, 4./10 ABC, 3.1/8 Fox, 2.7/6 NBC and Univision, 1.3/3 CW, .6/1. In general audiences: ABC, 15.8 million CBS, 11.4 million Fox, 7.6 000 0000 NBC, 4. million Univision, 3.2 million CW, 1.3 million. Contact Ron Kissell at ron.kissell@variety.com