CBS's first night of the fall season was down dramatically from last year's premiere night, when the addition of Ashton Kutcher gave a huge boost to "Two and a Half Men." CBS's new "Partners" had a so-so debut as NBC won the night, and its new drama "Revolution" held much of its premiere audience from last week, according to preliminary numbers.
CBS also had to go head-to-head Monday with NBC's hit "The Voice," which wasn't airing this time last season.
CBS has moved "Two and a Half Men" to Thursdays, leaving "2 Broke Girls," last season's biggest new comedy, to anchor Mondays. It scored a 3.7/9 in the key 18-49 demo, down 48 percent from last fall's premiere, when it had a huge lead-in from "Men." It had 10 million total viewers. Overall, CBS has a 2.7/7 rating, down 53 percent from its Kutcherized first Monday of the 2011-12 season. The new series "Partners" (pictured), about gay and heterosexual best friends, scored a 2.4/6 — a decent number, but not one likely to impress executives at the most-watched network overall. It had 6.5 million total viewers.
"Mike & Molly" at 9:30, meanwhile, dropped to its lowest-rated premiere to date, slipping 38 percent to a 3.0/7 and taking 9.3 million total viewers. The season premiere of "Hawaii 5-0" at 10 also launched its new run with a series low, dropping 44 percent to a 1.9/5 and attracting 8 million total viewers. The network averaged a third-place 8.4 million total viewers for the night.
NBC grabbed first place in ratings and second in total viewers with a 4.0/10 and 11 million. "The Voice" dipped 11 percent from last week for a 4.2/11 and took 11.9 million total viewers, while J.J. Abrams' new drama "Revolution" slipped from its series premiere last week, receiving a 3.5/9 and drawing 9.3 million total viewers.
While ABC's numbers are approximate due to local NFL preemption, the network currently holds third place in ratings and first in total viewers with a 2.6/7 and 13.5 million. The "Dancing With the Stars" season premiere at 8 took a hit compared to last fall's premiere, dropping 33 percent to a 2.7/7 — its lowest premiere rating to date. But it drew the night's largest total viewership with 14.6 million. The "Castle" premiere at 10 was likewise down, dropping 22 percent from last season's premiere for a 2.5/6 with 11.4 million total viewers.
Fox pulled into fourth place in ratings and total viewers with a 1.5/5 and 5.6 million. The network ran "Bones" at 8, which saw a minor dip for a 2.2/6, and took 7.3 million total viewers. "The Mob Doctor" (which looks likely to be the first new show to be canceled) dropped 13 percent from last week's premiere for a 1.3/3, and drew 4 million total viewers.
