'Theory,' 'Two and a Half Men' draw the night's best numbers

Fast National ratings for Monday, Aug. 17, 2009

Monday's ratings played out the same way they have for most of the summer, with CBS leading the way thanks to its comedies "Two and a Half Men" and "The Big Bang Theory."

CBS averaged 6.6 million viewers and a 4.4 rating/7 share in households to lead a fairly quiet evening on the broadcast networks. NBC (5.4 million, 3.6/6) finished second. ABC was not far behind with just over 5 million viewers and a 3.3/6. FOX (4.3 million, 2.8/5) came in fourth, and The CW (1.1 million, 0.7/1) brought up the rear.

The adults 18-49 crown also went to CBS, which drew a 2.0 in the key ad demographic. NBC took second with a 1.5, and ABC and FOX tied for third at 1.4. The CW scored a 0.4.

The hour-by-hour results:

8 p.m.

ABC: "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" (7 million viewers, 4.5/8 households)
CBS: "How I Met Your Mother" reruns -- two episodes (4.8 million, 3.2/5)
FOX: "House" rerun (4.7 million, 3.1/5)
NBC: "Great American Road Trip" (4.5 million, 2.8/5)
The CW: "One Tree Hill" rerun (1.2 million, 0.8/1)

18-49 leader: "How I Met Your Mother" (1.6)

9 p.m.

CBS: "Two and a Half Men" rerun (8.7 million, 5.7/9)/ "The Big Bang Theory" rerun (8.2 million, 5.3/9)
NBC: "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (4.9 million, 3.4/6)
ABC: "Dating in the Dark" (4.6 million, 2.9/5)
FOX: "Lie to Me" rerun (4 million, 2.6/4)
The CW: "Gossip Girl" rerun (905,000, 0.6/1)

18-49 leader: "The Big Bang Theory" (2.7)

10 p.m.

NBC: "Dateline" (6.6 million, 4.6/8)
CBS: (tie) "CSI: Miami" rerun (6.6 million, 4.5/8)
ABC: "Castle" rerun (3.5 million, 2.4/4)

18-49 leader: "Dateline" and "CSI: Miami" tied at 1.8

Ratings information includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change.