CBS laughs method to Monday victory

CBS was no. 1 broadcaster in key demos in most six half-hrs of primetime Monday, because the net's comedy anchors ''How I Met Your Mother'' and ''Two . 5 Men'' still outshine last year's rankings levels. ABC's ''Dancing Using the Stars'' was increasing, though still lower year upon year, however it was another weak showing for NBC's new John Williams newsmag. Based on preliminary Nielsen estimations, the CBS comedies paid for for Monday's top four entertainment-series scores among teenagers, brought as always by ''Two . 5 Men'' (5.1 rating/12 be part of grown ups 18-49, 14.5 million audiences overall) -- the night's No. 1 broadcast in 18-49, rising 19% versus. exactly the same evening last year. All the network's programs were up versus. the comparable Monday timeslot perf of this past year, 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 large 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 simply top its broadcast competition in demos for that hour. At ABC, ''Dancing Using the Stars'' (3.3/8 in 18-49, 18. million audiences overall) rallied to the best delivery since its season premiere, but that also left it about 15% below last year's performance around the comparable evening it continued to be the evening's most-viewed entertainment series overall. And also at 10, ''Castle'' (2.5/6 in 18-49, 11.3 million audiences overall) was consistent with its performance of this past year, also leading its timeslot broadcast competition as a whole audiences. Fox's ''Terra Nova'' (2.6/6 in 18-49, 7.7 million audiences overall) returned back from a week ago to put third one of the tv stations within the 8 o'clock hour. The internet maintained that standing around 9 p.m. with ''House'' (2.7/6 in 18-49, 7.5 million audiences overall), that was substantially more powerful last year within the leadoff position (3.7/10 in 18-49). NBC again battled, as ''The Sing Off'' settled for any 1.4/3 in 18-49 and 4.two million audiences overall, and newsmag ''Rock Center with John Williams'' (1./3 in 18-49, 3.5 million audiences overall) was on componen using its low-ranked debut from the previous week. ESPN will win the evening in key demos using its ''Monday Evening Football'' game between your Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles, which averaged a powerful 11.7 household rating in Nielsen's metered-market overnights. Additionally towards the cable internet, the overall game also broadcast from our marketplaces on independent stations, thus not affecting the preliminary overnights from the Large Four. Preliminary 18-49 earnings for that evening: CBS, 4./10 ABC, 3.1/8 Fox, 2.7/6 NBC and Univision, 1.3/3 CW, .6/1. As a whole audiences: ABC, 15.8 million CBS, 11.4 million Fox, 7.six million NBC, 4. million Univision, 3.two million CW, 1.3 million. Contact Ron Kissell at ron.kissell@variety.com