'Chuck,' 'House,' 'Big Bang' hit season lows

UPDATED: With the NBA playoffs heating up cable, several broadcast shows dipped to season lows Monday night -- including Fox's "House," CBS' "CSI: Miami" and NBC's "Chuck."

Fox won the night despite "House" (10.0 million viewers, 3.9 preliminary adults 18-49 rating) falling to a season
low, while "24" (9.0 million, 2.8) was flat.

ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" (19.6 million, 4.1) dropped slightly. "Romantically
Challenged" (9.6 million, 2.4) slipped two tenths. "Castle" (10.7 million,
2.5) was down a tenth.

CBS got a sense of how "Big Bang Theory" would perform on Monday nights if the comedy had to replace "Two and a Half Men." Should "Half Men" end prematurely due to star Charlie Sheen not reaching an agreement to return to the show next season, "Big Bang" would likely take a ratings hit without its powerful lead-in. Last night's special airing at 9 p.m. (11.6 million, 4.6), the comedy's lowest-rated episode of the season.

The network also aired "How I Met Your Mother" (7.4 million, 3.1), down a tenth, and
"Rules of Engagement" (7.2 million, 2.8), up 10% leading into "Big Bang"
and a repeat. "CSI: Miami" (9.6 million, 2.7) hit an all-time low.

Another key airing, NBC's "Chuck" (5.3 million, 1.9), dipped 10% when
fans hoped it would climb. The bubble show is on the verge of a pickup
and fell to tie its lowest-rated episode ever. In addition to "Chuck," NBC aired a repeat and "Law & Order" (6.2
million, 1.7).

The CW had a steady "One Tree Hill" (1.9 million, 1.0), though "Gossip Girl" (1.7 million, 0.9) slipped a bit.