Eye loves Raymond; ABC ranks 2nd

Morning Ratings Report - Rick Kissell

By RICK KISSELL

CBS easily won the second Monday of the new season, as "CSI: Miami" held up very well and new comedy "Still Standing" was solid in its premiere, according to preliminary nationals from Nielsen.

"CSI: Miami" (19.5 million viewers, 7.4/19 in adults 18-49) was off just 13% from its boffo week-earlier preem in adults 18-49, expanding its lead in the 10 p.m. hour over NBC's "Crossing Jordan" (prelim 9.9m, 3.6/9), which fell 18% week-to-week.

It capped a strong net for the Eye, which was up about 15% across the board vs. the same night a year ago.

The Eye's "Everybody Loves Raymond" at 9 was the night's top show (21.7m, 7.7/19), and lead-out "Still Standing" (18.1m, 6.4/15) retained 83% of its "Raymond" 18-49 lead-in - up from the 72% hold for the season premiere of "Becker" behind "Raymond" last year.

ABC will finish second, with "Monday Night Football" down slightly week-to-week in the prelims.

Third-place NBC was led by a solid showing for "Third Watch" (prelim 11.7m, 4.6/11), which was up vs. its hourlong opener of last season. And at 8, "Fear Factor" was in a close battle with CBS comedies for the hour's 18-49 lead (prelim 4.5/13).

Fox struggled to a fourth-place finish with the two-hour spec "Celebrity Bootcamp" (prelim 5.6m, 2.6/7).