NBC's "The New Normal" and "Go On" dropped to series lows Monday night, while ABC's new competition series "Splash" got off to an encouraging start and CBS won the night thanks largely to the top-rated "NCIS," according to preliminary numbers.
CBS drew first place in the advertiser-preferred 18-49 demographic with a 2.6 rating/7 share and in total viewers with 15 million. "NCIS" at 8 p.m., though down 9 percent in the demo from its last original two weeks ago, took the night's best ratings with a 3.1/10. It also had the night's top total viewership with 19 million. "NCIS: L.A." the following hour was even with last week for a 2.8/8 and took 16.6 million total viewers. The new drama "Golden Boy" at 10 climbed 13 percent to a 1.7/5 and drew 9.3 million total viewers.
ABC tied Fox for second place in ratings with a 2.0/6 and took second in total viewers with 8.9 million. The series premiere of the celebrity diving competition "Splash" at 8 posted a 2.6/8 — up 13 percent from last January's premiere of "Celebrity Wife Swap" — and had 8.8 million total viewers. The special "Dancing With the Stars: Exclusive First Look" drew a 2.1/6 and drew 9.6 million total viewers. "Body of Proof" at 10 climbed 25 percent for a 1.5/4 and drew 8.3 million total viewers.
Fox came in third in total viewers with 4.3 million. "Hell's Kitchen" at 8 was down slightly from last week's season premiere for a 2.0/6 and drew 4.9 million total viewers, while "New Girl" at 9 was also down slightly from its last original three weeks ago for a 2.2/6 and took 4.2 million total viewers. "The Mindy Project" at 9:30 ran even with its last original three weeks ago with a 1.7/4 and took 3.3 million total viewers.
Univision took fourth place in ratings and total viewers with a 1.4/4 and 3.5 million.
NBC came in fifth in ratings and total viewers with a 0.9/3 and 2.9 million. "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" at 8 dropped 23 percent from its last original in that time slot three weeks ago, taking a 1.0/3, and had 3.7 million total viewers. Another episode at 8:30 climbed 22 percent from last week for a 1.1/3 and also took 3.7 million total viewers. "Go On" at 9 inched down 9 percent from its last original two weeks ago to hit a low of 1.0/3 and had 2.9 million total viewers. "The New Normal" plunged 22 percent from its last original two weeks ago, hitting its own low of 0.7/2 and taking 2 million total viewers. "Smash," which is moving to Saturday nights following a scheduling shakeup earlier this month, slipped 11 percent to tie a series low of 0.8/2 and drew 2.6 million total viewers.
