CBS withstands tougher competition; CW gets `Unexpected’ boost

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CBS withstood new challenges to its Monday night dominance, taking the night in viewers and the 18-49 demographic.

The network’s sitcom hits ‘How I Met Your Mother,’ ‘Two and a Half Men’ and ‘The Big Bang Theory’ all won their time periods in viewers. The only weak link for the network was ‘Accidentally on Purpose’ (it’s 30 minutes, so it must be a sitcom, right?), which could not hold on to the first place lead-in that ‘How I Met Your Mother’ provided. Overall, CBS averaged 12.9 million viewers and a 4.2 rating in adults 18-49. Each rating in that category equals 1.3 million people.

The CW finally got some good news as its well-reviewed drama, ‘Life Unexpected,’ averaged almost 2.75 million viewers, which is the network’s best number in the Monday 9-10 p.m. time period in a year. More important, the numbers went up in the second half-hour, which is a good sign. Its 1.2 rating in adults 18-49 is on par with what ‘Gossip Girl’ has been averaging, and it didn’t need a threesome to do it!

ABC had a solid night with ‘The Bachelor’ and ‘Castle.’ The network was up in viewers and adults 18-49 compared with the same night a year ago. ABC finished third in viewers with 10.2 million and second in 18-49, with a 3.5 rating.

Fox’s two-hour ‘24’ averaged 11 million viewers and a 3.4 in adults 18-49.

-- Joe Flint