VIEWERS WELCOME BACK ALL NEW EPISODES OF CBS'S MONDAY COMEDIES

"How I Met Your Mother," "Two and a Half Men" and "The New Adventures of Old Christine" Hit Season Highs in Demos

Original Episodes of "The Big Bang Theory," "How I Met Your Mother," "Two and a Half Men" and "Christine" All Out Deliver Their Pre-Strike First-Run Averages

All new episodes of CBS's Monday comedy block successfully returned as original episodes of HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, TWO AND A HALF MEN and THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE posted season high demographic deliveries, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same day ratings for March 17.

Every program in the 8:00-10:00 PM comedy block exceeded its pre-strike first run averages in viewers and key demographics.

THE BIG BANG THEORY (P) returned with first run episodes, finishing second in households (5.5/09), viewers (9.11m), adults 25-54 (4.3/11) and adults 18-49 (3.7/11). Compared to the program's live plus same day first-run delivery this season, BIG BANG THEORY was up +2% in adults 25-54 (from 4.2/09), +6% in adults 18-49 (from 3.5/09), added +320,000 viewers (from 8.79m +4%).

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (P) was second in households (5.9/09), viewers (9.73m), adults 25-54 (5.0/12) and adults 18-49 (4.3/11). Compared to the program's live plus same day first-run season average, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER was up +13% in households (from 5.2/08), +32% in adults 25-54 (from 3.8/09), +34% in adults 18-49 (from 3.2/09) and added +1.59m viewers (from 8.14m, +20%). HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER posted season highs in households, viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49.

At 9:00 PM, a new episode of TWO AND A HALF MEN was second in households (8.5/13), viewers (14.03m), adults 25-54 (6.7/15, -0.2 behind ABC) and adults 18-49 (5.4/13, -0.1 behind ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" premiere). Compared to the program's live plus same day first-run season delivery, TWO AND A HALF MEN was up +10% in adults 25-54 (from 6.1/13), +13% in adults 18-49 (from 4.8/11) and added +180,000 viewers (from 13.85m, +1%). This is TWO AND A HALF MEN's best adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 delivery this season.

THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE was first in adults 25-54 (5.5/12), adults 18-49 (4.3/11), second in households (7.2/11) and viewers (11.45m, -0.44m behind NBC). Compared to the program's live plus same day delivery this season, THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE was up +18% in households (from 6.1/09), +34% in both adults 25-54 (from 4.1/09) and adults 18-49 (from 3.2/08) and added +2.13m viewers (from 9.32m, +23%). THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE scored season highs in households, viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49.

CSI: MIAMI returns with new episodes next Monday.

Updated Monday ratings will be available this afternoon.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: What follows is the afternoon update with the final national Nielsen ratings.]

VIEWERS WELCOME BACK ALL NEW EPISODES OF CBS'S MONDAY COMEDIES

"How I Met Your Mother," "Two and a Half Men" and "The New Adventures of Old Christine" Hit Season Highs in Demos

Original Episodes of "The Big Bang Theory," "How I Met Your Mother," "Two and a Half Men" and "Christine" All Out Deliver Their Pre-Strike First-Run Averages

All new episodes of CBS's Monday comedy block successfully returned as original episodes of HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, TWO AND A HALF MEN and THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE posted season high demographic deliveries, according to Nielsen updated live plus same day ratings for March 17.

Every program in the 8:00-10:00 PM comedy block exceeded its pre-strike first run averages in viewers and key demographics.

THE BIG BANG THEORY (P) returned with first run episodes, finishing second in households (5.4/09), viewers (8.93m), adults 25-54 (4.3/11) and adults 18-49 (3.6/11). Compared to the program's live plus same day first-run delivery this season, BIG BANG THEORY was up +2% in adults 25-54 (from 4.2/09), +3% in adults 18-49 (from 3.5/09), added +140,000 viewers (from 8.79m +2%).

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (P) was second in households (5.8/09), viewers (9.61m), adults 25-54 (5.0/12) and adults 18-49 (4.3/11). Compared to the program's live plus same day first-run season average, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER was up +12% in households (from 5.2/08), +32% in adults 25-54 (from 3.8/09), +34% in adults 18-49 (from 3.2/09) and added +1.47m viewers (from 8.14m, +18%). HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER posted season highs in households, viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49.

A new episode of TWO AND A HALF MEN was second in households (8.5/13), viewers (14.06m), adults 25-54 (6.8/15, -0.2 behind ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" premiere) and adults 18-49 (5.4/13, -0.2 behind ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" premiere). Compared to the program's live plus same day first-run season delivery, TWO AND A HALF MEN was up +11% in adults 25-54 (from 6.1/13), +13% in adults 18-49 (from 4.8/11) and added +210,000 viewers (from 13.85m, +1%). This is TWO AND A HALF MEN's best adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 delivery this season.

THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE was first in adults 25-54 (5.5/12), adults 18-49 (4.3/11), second in households (7.1/11) and viewers (11.47m, -0.55m behind NBC). Compared to the program's live plus same day delivery this season, THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE was up +16% in households (from 6.1/09), +34% in both adults 25-54 (from 4.1/09) and adults 18-49 (from 3.2/08) and added +2.15m viewers (from 9.32m, +23%). THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE scored season highs in households, viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49.

CSI: MIAMI returns with new episodes next Monday.