nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for monday, october 4, 2010)

Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

ABC (17.38 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.9, #1) retained top honors on Monday thanks to new episodes of "Dancing With the Stars" (20.12 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.4, #2) and "Castle" (11.91 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.0, #T7).

The silver once again went to CBS (11.27 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.6, #2) with its mix of "How I Met Your Mother" (8.58 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.4, #6), "Rules of Engagement" (8.45 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.0, #T7), "Two and a Half Men" (14.24 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.5, #1), "Mike & Molly" (12.29 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.8, #4) and "Hawaii Five-0" (12.03 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.5, #5).

Next up was FOX (8.25 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.0, #3) with a new "House" (10.53 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.9, #3) and the return of "Lie to Me" (5.97 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.2, #10).

Meanwhile, NBC (6.22 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.0, #4) offered up new episodes of "Chuck" (5.36 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.9, #11), "The Event" (7.46 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.4, #9) and "Chase" (5.83 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.7, #12).

And finally, new episodes of "90210" (1.92 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.0, #14) and "Gossip Girl" (2.12 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.1, #13) on The CW (2.02 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.1, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Gossip Girl (10.00%), House (5.40%), Mike & Molly (2.70%), Hawaii Five-0 (0.00%), Chuck (-5.00%), Two and a Half Men (-6.30%), Castle (-6.30%), Rules of Engagement (-6.30%), Dancing With the Stars (-8.30%), 90210 (-9.10%), How I Met Your Mother (-10.50%), The Event (-17.20%), Chase (-19.00%).

In late-night metered market ratings, ABC's "Nightline" (3.5/8) took top honors ahead of CBS's "Letterman" (2.9/7) and NBC's "Leno" (2.7/7). Rounding out the night then were "Kimmel" (1.6/5) on ABC "Ferguson" (1.5/5) on CBS and "Fallon" (1.3/5) and "Daly" (0.7/3) on NBC.

Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (10/5/09):

FOX (10.59 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.1, #1) overpowered the competition on Monday thanks to a new "House" (13.06 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 5.1, #1). Leading out of said hour was a new "Lie to Me" (8.12 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.0, #T7).

Second place once again went to CBS (11.11 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.8, #2) with week three of "How I Met Your Mother" (8.23 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.4, #6), "Accidentally on Purpose" (7.22 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.8, #9), "Two and a Half Men" (13.07 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.3, #3), "The Big Bang Theory" (12.25 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 4.5, #2) and "CSI: Miami" (12.96 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.9, #5).

Next up was ABC (15.74 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.6, #3) with its mix of "Dancing With the Stars" (17.78 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.0, #4) and "Castle" (11.64 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.0, #T7).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.07 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #4) offered up fresh installments of "Heroes" (5.41 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.3, #10), "Trauma" (5.49 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.8, #11) and "The Jay Leno Show" (4.31 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.4, #12).

And finally, new episodes of "One Tree Hill" (2.19 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.0, #14) and "Gossip Girl" (2.07 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.1, #13) on The CW (2.13 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research