TV Ratings: 'The Voice,' 'Smash' Give NBC Softer Win Over a Down CBS

Lewis Jacobs/NBC

Blind auditions continue to be big business for NBC's The Voice in episode three. The singing competition earned a 5.9 among adults 18-49 during its 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. block last night. The 12 percent drop still pushed it far ahead of its closest competition, CBS, whose comedy block averaged a 3.6 rating.

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Still winning its hour but posting a slightly bigger loss was Smash. The drama's second episode had a timeslot victory with a 2.8 in the demo, though it was down 26 percent. Altogether, fast affiliate ratings give NBC wins in viewers (13.4 million) and adults 18-49 (4.9) for the night.

Against Monday's new dominant network, all five CBS series hit season lows, giving the network a second place finish of 10.3 million and a 3.3 among 18-49-ers. How I Met Your Mother posted the biggest loss, down 15 percent for a 3.4, while 2 Broke Girls dropped 14 percent for a 3.7 in the demo. Two and a Half Men was down to a 3.8, with Mike & Molly at a 3.3 (the night's smallest loss, just 3 percent) and Hawaii Five-0 was down to a 2.6. (The latter topped The Voice in total viewers by 1.5 million.)

ABC's third place showing of a 2.3 in adults and 8.3 million was very much in line with last week. Castle tied its previous score, a 2.0 among 18-49-ers, while two hours of The Bachelor fell just 4 percent for a 2.5 rating.

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Its first episode since announcing its impending end-date, House only fell 4 percent on Fox for a 2.4 among adults 18-49. Alcatraz followed with a bigger loss, 17 percent for a series low of a 1.9 demo showing. The network averaged a 2.1 for the night and 6.7 million viewers.

On the CW, Gossip Girl hit a season low in adults 18-49, a 0.5 rating, while Hart of Dixie stayed even with a 0.6.

More to come.