"THE BIG BANG THEORY" AND "HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER" OPEN THE NEW YEAR WITH RECORD RATINGS

"The Big Bang Theory" Delivers Its Largest Audience and Highest Adult 18-49 Ratings Ever

"How I Met Your Mother" Hits Another Series Best Adult 18-49 Delivery and Second Largest Audience Ever

"Two and a Half Men" Matches Season High Adult 18-49 Ratings; Second Largest Audience of the Season

Comedy Block Tops "24" in Key Demos

"CSI: Miami" Delivers Its Largest Audience Since Its Season Premiere

CBS Wins Monday in Viewers with Its Largest Audience of the Season and Is First in Key Demographics

Original episodes of THE BIG BANG THEORY and HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER opened the new year with record ratings while TWO AND A HALF MEN matched its season high adult 18-49 rating, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same ratings for Jan. 12.

THE BIG BANG THEORY was first in households (7.2/11), adults 25-54 (5.2/12), adults 18-49 (4.4/11), tied for first in adults 18-34 (3.3/11, with FOX) and second in viewers (11.81m, -0.17m behind FOX). This is THE BIG BANG THEORY's best delivery to date in households, viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49, second best adults 18-34 performance. This is the second consecutive first-run broadcast to post series highs in households, viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49.

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER was first in households (7.0/10), adults 25-54 (5.4/12), adults 18-49 (4.8/12), adults 18-34 (3.9/10) and second in viewers (11.85m, -0.08m behind FOX). This is HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER's best delivery to date in adults 18-49, matched series high in adults 25-54, posted the second best viewer total, matched the second best adults 18-34 delivery and was the best household performance since Feb. 6, 2006.

TWO AND A HALF MEN was first in households (10.4/15), viewers (17.11m), adults 25-54 (7.0/15), adults 18-49 (5.6/13) and tied for first in adults 18-34 (3.6/09, with FOX). TWO AND A HALF MEN matched its season's best adults 18-49 delivery, posted the season's second best households, viewers and adults 25-54 performances and matched the second best adults 18-34 delivery this season.

CSI MIAMI was first in households (10.1/17), viewers (15.69m), adults 25-54 (5.4/13) and adults 18-49 (4.0/10). This is CSI: MIAMI's best delivery in households and adults 25-54 since Nov. 17, 2008, best viewers total since Sept. 22, 2008 (season premiere) and best delivery in adults 18-49 since Dec. 8, 2008.

For the night, CBS was first in households (8.6/13), viewers (13.77m), adults 25-54 (5.4/12) and adults 18-49 (4.3/11). This is CBS's best Monday performance in households and viewers this season, second best in adults 25-54 and matches second best in adults 18-49.

Updated Monday ratings will be available this afternoon.