Monday a big 'Deal' for NBC

'My Dad' bows to solid numbers

'Knight' rides back to success

Fox posts another ratings victory

NBC made it six straight Monday victories among young adults thanks to the highest-rated "Deal or No Deal" in nearly a year and a solid debut for new unscripted series "My Dad Is Better Than Your Dad."

According to preliminary nationals from Nielsen, "Deal or No Deal" whipped the competition at 8 o'clock, logging a big 5.2 rating/13 share in adults 18-49 and 16.8 million viewers overall -- the show's best scores and the Peacock's strongest delivery in the time period since last March. At 9, "My Dad Is Better Than Your Dad" (3.5/9 in 18-49, 9.8 million viewers overall) held on to enough of its lead-in to place a close second in 18-49 for its time period, and moving into the 18-49 lead at 9:30. An original episode of "Medium" closed out the night for NBC with a narrow demo victory (2.8/7 in 18-49, 8.5 million viewers overall).

Fox ran second on the night in demos behind "Prison Break" (3.1/8 in 18-49, 7.4 million viewers overall) and "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" (3.2/8 in 18-49, 8.1 million viewers overall), with the latter finishing third in 18-49 during the 9 o'clock hour.

CBS rookie comedy "Welcome to the Captain" continues to post modest scores in its 8:30 slot (2.0/5 in 18-49, 5.5 million viewers overall), but the net shot up to win the 9 o'clock half-hour with a repeat of "Two and a Half Men" (4.0/10 in 18-49, 12.4 million viewers overall). "Old Christine" fell off from there with a firstrun episode (second-place 3.3/8 in 18-49, 9.4 million viewers overall), and the net was first or second in various categories at 10 o'clock with a repeat of "CSI: Miami" (2.7/7 in 18-49, 9.6 million viewers overall).

ABC did little on the night, even with the finale of "Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann" (2.3/6 in 18-49, 9.1 million viewers overall). Sophomore drama "October Road" again finished a distant third among the broadcasters at 10 (1.6/4 in 18-49, 4.4 million viewers overall).

At CW, unscripted series "Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious" opened to sluggish numbers at 9 o'clock (0.9/2 in 18-49, 1.8 million viewers overall).

Preliminary 18-49 averages for the night: NBC, 3.8/10; Fox, 3.1/8; CBS, 2.8/7; ABC, 2.1/5; Univision, 1.8/5; CW, 0.7/2.

In total viewers: NBC, 11.7 million; CBS, 8.8 million; Fox, 7.7 million; ABC, 7.6 million; Univision, 4.1 million; CW, 1.5 million.