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TV ratings: 'Dancing with the Stars' opens big Monday
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Fast National ratings for Monday, March 22, 2010The premiere of the 10th "Dancing with the Stars" scored big ratings for ABC Monday night -- big enough to potentially challenge "American Idol" for the week's most-watched show.
"Dancing" was way up from its fall debut and also helped lead-out "Castle" score some of its highest ratings ever. CBS and NBC, meanwhile, took hits to their usual numbers.
ABC averaged 20.2 million viewers and a 12.7 rating/20 share for the night, finishing well ahead of CBS' 11 million viewers and 6.8/11. FOX (6.8 million, 4.2/6) came in third. NBC took fourth with 5.2 million viewers and a 3.3/5, and The CW (1.9 million, 1.3/2) trailed.
ABC also dominated the adults 18-49 demographic with a 5.4 rating. CBS finished a healthy second at 3.9. FOX's 2.2 was good for third, beating out NBC's 1.7 and The CW's 0.9.
Monday hour by hour:
8 p.m.
ABC: "Dancing with the Stars" season premiere (22.6 million viewers, 14.1/22 households)
CBS: "How I Met Your Mother" (8.5 million, 5.3/8)/"Rules of Engagement" (8.5 million, 5.3/8)
NBC: "Chuck" (5.4 million, 3.3/5)
FOX: "House" rerun (5.1 million, 3.3/5)
The CW: "Life Unexpected" (2 million, 1.3/2)
18-49 leader: "Dancing with the Stars" (5.8)
9 p.m.
ABC: "Dancing with the Stars" season premiere (25.1 million, 15.6/23)
CBS: "Two and a Half Men" (14.4 million, 8.6/13)/"The Big Bang Theory" (13.4 million, 7.9/12)
FOX: "24" (8.5 million, 5.2/8)
NBC: "Trauma" (4.3 million, 2.7/4)
The CW: "Gossip Girl" (1.9 million, 1.2/2)
18-49 leader: "Dancing with the Stars" (6.9)
10 p.m.
ABC: "Castle" (12.9 million, 8.4/14)
CBS: "CSI: Miami" (10.7 million, 6.8/12)
NBC: "Law & Order" (5.9 million, 3.8/6)
18-49 leader: "Castle" (3.6)
Ratings information includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change. Source: The Nielsen Company.
More ratings at Zap2it: Daily, weekly and cable
Photo credit: ABC
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Hooray for Castle! That was seriously the best episode of the series so far.
DWTS is total crap! I cannot believe people watch this crap when there are good alternatives. Same crap season after seaon! ENOUGH!! STOP WATCHING THIS CRAP!!!
Hooray for Castle!!! That was a superb episode last night ... can't wait for next week's eppy ... and btw we all knew DWTS was gonna do great ...
At least Life Unexpected stayed consistent!
i love bopth DWTS and Castle. monday are no longer boring.
I'm not surprised DWTS did so well. They have a very eclectic, well rounded cast this season. I want Evan Lysacek to be my baby daddy.
Television might as well just go to all reality programming it seems to be the only thing the pathetic American tv viewer likes to watch(and if you through in some "celebrities" they can obsess over its even better)
Kate was ok but lackluster overall, Pamela seemed to be constantly pulling up her dress, a top clearly hanging on for dear life, Buzz had the energy of a snail and Evan the clear favorite showed no sign of slowing down since Vancouver.
Comments such as expectations of Pamela's inevitable nip-slip, concerns about Aldrins age, and anticipation of Niecy's snappy comebacks are just a few of the opinions that people have made on the official Baduku Dancing with the Stars Channel. Check it out here, http://www.baduku.com/dwts10
DWTS was awesome last night. And Castle--the best episode ever. Case closed!!!!
david, the reason so many people watch this crap (DWTS & AI) is because there is no viewer participation required. When watching drama's or comedy's, one must use one's brain to stay "engaged" (as John Luke Picard use to say). The dumbed down American Public no longer wish to use their brain as evidenced by what happened at the ballot box in 2008. So until our society wakes up & starts challanging life again as our parents did, this will be the TV Fair.