TV Ratings: ABC dances away with Monday

Zap2It.com | March 17, 2009

'Dancing with the Stars' hosts Tom Bergeron and Samantha Harris

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'Dancing with the Stars' stays strong in second week

Fast National ratings for Monday, March 16, 2009

ABC waltzed to the top of the ratings Monday as "Dancing with the Stars" followed up its big premiere last week with another heavily watched night.

ABC led the night with an 11.4 rating/18 share, beating its closest competitor by more than 5 million viewers. CBS finished second in households at 7.3/11, but FOX, 7.1/11, snagged the No. 2 spot in total viewers. A night of reruns on NBC managed only a 2.4/4, and The CW trailed at 1.5/2.

The adults 18-49 race was a tight one, but ABC came out on top with a 4.6. FOX took second at 4.2, followed closely by CBS at 4.0. Both NBC (1.3) and The CW (1.1) were well off the pace.

"Dancing with the Stars" opened with a 12.7/20 at 8 p.m. "House" put FOX in second with a 7.6/12. CBS came in third with "The Big Bang Theory," 5.9/9, and "How I Met Your Mother," 5.5/8. A "Chuck" repeat was fourth for NBC, topping the 1.5/2 for "Gossip Girl" on The CW.

The second hour of "Dancing with the Stars" improved to 13.9/21. CBS moved up to second at 9 o'clock thanks to "Two and a Half Men," 8.4/13, and "Rules of Engagement," 6.9/10. FOX's "24" scored a 6.6/10 to finish third. "Heroes" rerun could muster only a 1.9/3, keeping NBC only a little ahead of The CW and "Gossip Girl."

CBS took the lead at 10 p.m. with "CSI: Miami," 8.6/14. "Castle" drew a 7.7/13 for ABC -- in line with its premiere last week -- while a "Medium" encore drew a 2.8/5 for NBC.

Ratings information is taken from fast national data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change.