TV Ratings: CBS rules 'Bachelorette'-free Monday

Jon Cryer and Charlie Sheen of 'Two and a Half Men'

Credit: CBS

Fast National ratings for Monday, August 3, 2009.

Not so surprisingly, it turns out that the only thing preventing Monday nights from being CBS' own personal playground was "The Bachelorette." With the ABC reality hit no longer on the schedule, CBS dominated Monday.

Among adults 18-49, CBS averaged a 2.2 rating, topping the 1.5 rating for NBC and the 1.4 rating for FOX in the key demographic. ABC slipped to a 1.2 rating, bettering The CW's 0.4 rating.

Overall, CBS averaged an estimated 7.22 million viewers to go with a 4.8 rating/8 share. NBC's 3.7/6 was second. ABC and FOX tied for third with a 2.4/4. The CW's 0.6/1 trailed.

CBS swept the primetime hours starting at 8 p.m. with the 3.4/6 for "How I Met Your Mother" and "Rules of Engagement." FOX's "House" was second, with ABC's "Sugarland" special and NBC's "Great American Road Trip" taking third with a 2.8/5. The CW's "One Tree Hill" was fifth with a 0.6/1.

"Two and a Half Men" and "The Big Bang Theory" took the 9 p.m. hour for CBS with a 5.7/10 (and a combined 2.7 demo rating). NBC was second with a 3.5/6 for "Law & Order: Criminal Intent." ABC's repeat of "Dating in the Dark" was third, nipping the 1.8/3 for FOX's "Lie to Me." The CW's "Gossip Girl" was fifth.

CBS closed the night with a 5.2/9 for "CSI: Miami." "Dateline NBC" was a close second. ABC's "Dating in the Dark" fell to a 2.4/4 in its first airing without a "Bachelorette" buffer.

All ratings information comes from preliminary Fast National Nielsen data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are subject to change.