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Big bang: CBS
topples Fox and ABC

Averages a 4.1 in 18-49s with 'Big Bang Theory'

By Toni Fitzgerald
Feb 2, 2010

CBS strutted to victory on Monday night against stiff competition from Fox and ABC.

CBS's "The Big Bang Theory" was once again the night's highest-rated show, averaging a 5.4 adults 18-49 rating, according to Nielsen overnights, up 0.1 over its most recent original episode.

CBS averaged a 4.1 rating and 10 share for the night, just ahead of Fox's 3.9/10 and ABC's 3.5/9.

CBS won the last two hours of the night, despite placing third at 8 p.m.

Fox's "House" was the night's No. 2 show, averaging a 4.8 at 8 p.m., and ABC's "The Bachelor" hit a season high with a 4.1 for its two-hour episode.

NBC's "Chuck," though down 0.1 from last week to a 2.4 rating at 8 p.m. and finishing fourth in the timeslot, continues to be the network's highest-rated show on Mondays, despite the fact that it just barely got renewed this season, which probably says more about NBC than about "Chuck."

NBC placed fourth for the evening at 1.9/5. Univision was fifth at 1.5/4 and the CW placed sixth at 1.0/2.

As a reminder, all ratings are based on live-plus-same-day DVR playback. Seven-day DVR data won’t be available for several weeks. Thirty-four percent of Nielsen households have DVRs.

At 8 p.m. Fox was first with a 4.8 for “House,” followed by ABC with a 3.8 for “Bachelor.” CBS was third with a 3.4 for “How I Met Your Mother” (3.7) and “Accidentally On Purpose” (3.1), NBC fourth with a 2.4 for “Chuck,” Univision fifth with a 1.4 for “Hasta que el Dinero Nos Separe” and CW sixth with a 1.0 for “One Tree Hill.”

CBS took the lead at 9 p.m. with a 5.2 for “Two and a Half Men” (5.1) and “Bang” (5.4), while ABC remained second with a 4.4 for more “Bachelor.” Fox was third with a 3.1 for “24,” NBC and Univision tied for fourth at 2.0, NBC for “Heroes” and Univision for “Sortilegio,” and CW was sixth with a 1.0 for “Life Unexpected.”

At 10 p.m. CBS was first again with a 3.6 for “CSI: Miami,” with ABC second with a 2.2 for a repeat of “Castle.” Univision was third with a 1.3 for “Cristina” and NBC fourth with a 1.1 for “The Jay Leno Show.”

CBS led the night among households with a 7.8 average overnight rating and a 12 share. Fox was second at 6.8/10, ABC third at 6.7/10, NBC fourth at 3.0/5, Univision fifth at 2.0/3 and CW sixth at 1.4/2.

Toni Fitzgerald is a staff writer for Media Life.	© 2010 Media Life Magazine

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