TV Ratings: CBS' Lineup Up, Gabrielle Giffords' '20/20' Interview Boosts ABC

Norman Shapiro/CBS

"Hawaii Five-0"

Football and wrestling proved to be non-factors for CBS' entire lineup, as all of its series improved on Monday night.

How I Met Your Mother (10.4 million total viewers, 4.5 rating in adults 18-49 demographic), 2 Broke Girls (11.7 million, 4.8), Two and a Half Men (14.6 million, 5.3) and Mike & Molly (12.2 million, 4.4) all saw growth against the competition, which were mostly either steady or down a few notches. CBS' strong performances for its comedies helped Hawaii Five-0 (11.5 million, 3.3) post its best ratings since the season premiere. The net easily topped the night in the demo, averaging a 4.2 rating in primetime.

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ABC was right behind with an average rating of 3.2; it was Monday's most-watched network, however, drawing 16.8 million. Reality competition series Dancing With the Stars (18.5 million, 3.4) held steady from last week. A special edition of 20/20 (13.4 million, 2.8), featuring Diane Sawyer's interview with Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, boosted ABC's usual performance in the 10 p.m. time slot compared to when crime procedural Castle normally airs.

Cable offerings didn't help Fox, on the other hand. Terra Nova (7.1 million, 2.3) sank 12 percent and House (6.6 million, 2.5) dropped another 11 percent from its last week. Fox ranked third for the night among 18-49 (2.4) and the younger adults 18-34 demo.

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NBC continued to rank fourth in primetime, averaging a 1.4 in demo that counts. The Sing-Off (4.8 million, 1.5) remained flat, while Rock Center With Brian Wiliams (4.5 million, 1.3) saw a drastic 30 percent improvement from its last original, most likely due to Bob Costas' interview with former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky.

The CW's Gossip Girl (1.2 million, 0.6) and Hart of Dixie (1.6 million, 0.6) were steady.

According to overnight ratings for last night's Monday Night Football game on ESPN, the Vikings-Packers matchup drew a 9.2 metered-market average. Final are expected to be available later this afternoon.