TV Ratings: 'Two And a Half Men' Drops Big in Second Week But Still Tops Monday

The CBS comedy dips 30%, but is still the top show of the night with more than 20 million viewers, and also lifts "Mike & Molly" to a series high.

8:26 AM PDT 9/27/2011 by Marisa Guthrie

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Danny Feld/CBS/Warner Bros.

In its second week with Ashton Kutcher as Charlie Sheen's replacement, CBS' Two And a Half Men pulled in 20.3 million viewers with a 7.2 rating in the 18-49 demographic. That was down about 30 percent compared to last week's record breaking premiere, which averaged a 10.7 rating in the demo and 28.7 million viewers.

Some fall-off was expected as viewers curious about Sheen's exit and Kutcher's entrance may not have stuck with the show in its second week. But significantly, last night's episode marked a 50 percent gain compared to the second episode of Men last season.

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It was more than enough to make Men the top-rated show on the second Monday of the new season. And it lifted Mike & Molly to series highs in the demo (4.9 rating) and total viewers (13.9 million), for its second season premiere.

New comedy Two Broke Girls was down considerably from its monster premiere behind Men last week. But it sill pulled in a very healthy 4.5 rating in the demo and 11.5 million viewers in its regular 8:30 p.m. time slot.

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