NBC's "Fear Factor" delivered its best numbers ever and "Meet My Folks" followed with its second best scores to date to give the net a decisive victory in adults 18-49 - and its highest non-sports Monday average in nearly four years (6.9/18). CBS won the night in total viewers, with "CSI: Miami" winning easily by that measure at 10.
"Fear" (8.0/20 in adults 18-49, 18.3 million viewers overall) dominated from 8 to 9:30 with best-ever ratings, topping its previous highs set last month. From 9:30 to 11, "Meet My Folks" (5.9/15 in adults 18-49, 11.9 million viewers overall) was a close second to CBS in adults 18-49 while winning easily in all of the under-35 breakdowns.
CBS was led by "CSI: Miami" (6.8/18 in adults 18-49, 18.8 million viewers overall) and "Everybody Loves Raymond" (6.3/15 in adults 18-49, 19.5 million viewers overall). At 9:30, "Still Standing" (5.5/13 in adults 18-49, 16.2 million viewers overall) retained a strong 87% of its "Raymond" 18-49 lead-in.
Fox placed third in both of its hours with "Boston Public" (3.7/10 in adults 18-49) and "Married By America" (3.5/8), the latter of which was down from its week-earlier premiere (4.1/10).
ABC again struggled to what's likely historical Alphabet lows for a night of original series Monday programming (2.2/6 in adults 18-49), led by a fourth-place finish for "The Practice" (2.6/6).
Preliminary 18-49 averages for the night: NBC, 6.9/18; CBS, 5.7/15; Fox, 3.6/9; ABC, 2.2/6.
In total viewers: CBS, 16.9 million; NBC, 15.1 million; Fox, 8.0 million; ABC, 6.9 million.
Contact Rick Kissell at
rick.kissell@variety.com