TV ratings: ABC dances to another Monday win

Fast National ratings for Monday, Oct. 25, 2010

An A-list "Monday Night Football" matchup appears to have stolen viewers from some of Monday's scripted shows, but "Dancing With the Stars" actually improved on last week's performance to lead ABC to the top of the ratings pile.

For the night, ABC averaged 17.35 million viewers and an 11.1 rating/17 share in households, beating CBS (10.2 million, 6.3/10) by a wide margin. NBC finished a distant third with just 5.4 million viewers and a 3.4/5, while FOX (4.1 million, 2.6/4) dropped to fourth thanks mostly to the fact that it aired a repeat of "House" at 8 p.m. The CW (2 million, 1.3/2) was also up a little compared to its last non-rerun Monday two weeks ago.

The adults 18-49 race was closer, but ABC still came out on top with a 3.8 rating. CBS finished second in the demo with a 3.3, while no other network managed even a 2.0. NBC was third at 1.7, followed by FOX, 1.5, and The CW, 1.0.

Monday hour by hour:

8 p.m.

ABC: "Dancing With the Stars" (19.3 million viewers, 12.4/19 households)
CBS: "How I Met Your Mother" (8.4 million, 5.1/8)/"Rules of Engagement" (8.3 million, 5.0/7)
NBC: "Chuck" (5.4 million, 3.3/5)
FOX: "House" rerun (4 million, 2.5/4)
The CW: "90210" (2 million, 1.3/2)

18-49 leader: "Dancing With the Stars" (3.9)

9 p.m.

ABC: "Dancing With the Stars" (21 million, 13.3/20)
CBS: "Two and a Half Men" (13.7 million, 8.3/12)/"Mike & Molly" (10.85 million, 6.6/10)
NBC: "The Event" (5.9 million, 3.7/5)
FOX: "Lie to Me" (4.3 million, 2.7/4)
The CW: "Gossip Girl" (1.9 million, 1.3/2)

18-49 leader: "Dancing With the Stars" (4.5)

10 p.m.

ABC: "Castle" (11.8 million, 7.7/13)
CBS: "Hawaii Five-0" (10 million, 6.4/11)
NBC: "Chase" (4.9 million, 3.1/5)

18-49 leader: "Castle" (3.0)

Ratings information includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change. Source: The Nielsen Company.

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Photo credit: ABC