"Hell's Kitchen" stayed hot for Fox on what was otherwise a ho-hum Monday night in primetime for the Big Four networks. Neither NBC nor CBS did much business with hastily scheduled news specials on CBS Michael Jackson's complete acquittal on child molestation and conspiracy charges, which were topped by a repeat of Fox's "Nanny 911."

CBS brought in 5.5 million viewers with its half-hour "48 Hours" specials; an hourlong "Dateline" averaged 5.7 million.

The third outing of "Kitchen," Fox's culinary competition, averaged 7.4 million viewers and 3.7 rating/10 share in the adults 18-49 demographic from 9-10 p.m., according to preliminary estimates from Nielsen Media Research. "Kitchen" had a leg up from its lead-in, "Nanny 911" (5.9 million, 2.5/8), which did respectable business for a reality repeat.

ABC wasn't as fortunate at 8 p.m. with the second airing of its summer reality entry "The Scholar" (4.5 million, 1.5/5) which dipped from last week's modest premiere numbers. CBS had no trouble winning the 9 p.m. hour in viewers with repeats of "Everybody Loves Raymond" (8.4 million, 2.5/7) and "Two and a Half Men" (10.2 million, 3.1/8), which built noticeably on its lead-in.

CBS took over at 10 p.m. with its "CSI: Miami" repeat (11.1 million, 3.3/9). ABC didn't have much traction with its 9-11 p.m. airing of "Men in Black II" (5.6 million, 2.1/6). NBC ran third in viewers and adults 18-49 for the

For the night, CBS won in viewers (8.5 million) while Fox prevailed in adults 18-49 (3.1/9).