In another record-setting night for unscripted programs, both Fox's "Joe Millionaire" and NBC's "Fear Factor" achieved new ratings highs Monday, according to preliminary nationals from Nielsen. Fox won the night easily in adults 18-49, 25-54 and 18-34 as well as total viewers.
NBC, which tied CBS for second in adults 18-49, grabbed the best 18-49 average for its regular Monday lineup this season (5.4/13).
The penultimate episode of "Joe Millionaire" dominated from 9 to 10 with a whopping 12.9/28 among adults 18-49 and 23.9 million viewers overall. It topped the combined ABC-CBS-NBC competish by 8% in adults 18-49 and by 70% in adults 18-34. This episode of "Joe" ranks as the season's No. 5 series telecast among all the nets in adults 18-49 and No. 4 in 18-34 (14.6/34).
NBC's "couples" edition of "Fear Factor" sent the gross-out reality series to all-time highs (7.7/19 in adults 18-49, 17.7 million viewers) as it crushed its competish from 8 to 9.
CBS' "CSI: Miami" (6.5/16 in adults 18-49, 17.4 million viewers overall) led the 10 o'clock hour across the board, virtually matching the combined 18-49 scores of competing dramas "Crossing Jordan" (4.1/10) and "Miracles" (2.5/6).
It was another struggle for ABC, as all three of its Monday dramas hit new lows. At 9, "The Practice" (2.4/5 in adults 18-49) ran a distant fourth.
Preliminary 18-49 averages for the night: Fox, 8.6/20; CBS, 5.4/13; NBC, 5.4/13; ABC, 2.4/6.
In total viewers: Fox, 16.8 million; CBS, 15.7 million; NBC, 13.4 million; ABC, 6.8 million.
Contact Rick Kissell at
rick.kissell@variety.com