ABC's "The Bachelorette" is #1 at 9pm in Viewers and Young Adults and Monday's #1 TV Show in W18-34

Early info on ABC's Monday, ahead of the regular press release.

ABC earned second place on Memorial Day in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, while finishing #1 for the 3rd week in a row across the Women demographics (W18-34W18-49/W25-54).

Coming off its week-earlier season opener directly following the high-rated Dancing performance finale, ABC's 2-hour The Bachelorette shifted back to its regular 8pm start time and ranked a solid #2 against America's Got Talent during its first hour, and then surged up to #1 during its second hour in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. The ABC unscripted series won its 2-hour time period for the 2nd week running with all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

· In addition to drawing a larger audience than NBC's Talent-fueled American Ninja Warrior during the 9 o'clock hour, The Bachelorette beat Ninja Warrior with Adults 18-34 in head-to-head competition by 7%.

· The Bachelorette stood as Monday's #1 TV show for the 2nd consecutive week among its core audience of Women 18-34.

Qualifying as the 2nd-most-watched TV show in the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's repeat Castle topped NBC's Grimm repeat by 1.4 million viewers.

Quick Take for Monday, May 28, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live+ Same Day Ratings)

ABC Ranks No. 1 on Memorial Day Monday Across All Key Women Demos

"The Bachelorette" Stands as Monday's No. 1 Program In its Core Women 18-34 Audience for the 2nd Week in a Row

ABC's "Castle" Outdraws NBC's "Grimm" at 10pm by 1.4 Million Viewers

Monday Night (8:00-11:00 p.m.)

ABC earned second place on Memorial Day in Total Viewers (5.2 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.5/4), while finishing No. 1 for the 3rd week in a row across the Women demographics (W18-34W18-49/W25-54).

"The Bachelorette" (8:00-10:00 p.m.)

Coming off its week-earlier season opener directly following the high-rated "Dancing" performance finale, ABC's 2-hour "The Bachelorette" shifted back to its regular 8:00 p.m. start time and ranked a solid No. 2 against "America's Got Talent" during its first hour, and then surged up to No. 1 during its second hour in Total Viewers (5.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.0/5-tie). The ABC unscripted series won its 2-hour time period for the 2nd week running with all key Women (W18-34/W18-49/W25-54).

· In addition to drawing a larger audience than NBC's "Talent-"fueled "American Ninja Warrior" during the 9 o'clock hour, "The Bachelorette" beat "Ninja Warrior" with Adults 18-34 in head-to-head competition by 7% (1.6/5 vs. 1.5/5).

· "The Bachelorette" stood as Monday's No. 1 TV show for the 2nd consecutive week among its core audience of Women 18-34 (2.2/7).

"Castle" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

Qualifying as the 2nd-most-watched TV show in the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's repeat "Castle" topped NBC's "Grimm" repeat by 1.4 million viewers (4.2 million vs. 2.8 million).

A note about increasing DVR penetration and year-to-year rating comparisons: Year-to-year rating comparisons based on the Live + Same Day data stream are distorted by the level of DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample, which has jumped up to 44% currently, from 41% at the same point in 2011. More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which may not be reflected in the overnight next day numbers. The only truly valid year-to-year comparison would be one based on the Live + 7 Day metric, once those stats are released by Nielsen.

Source: The Nielsen Company (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings), 5/28/12.