Premiere Week Ratings - Monday, Sept. 21

Let us start at the bottom and work up.

The CW, as usual, was last in each time slot, but where One Tree Hill (2.5 million - 1.2 demo) pulled decent numbers, Gossip Girl dropped significantly (2.1 million - 1.1 demo).

NBC finally saw reality on this first Official night of the 2009-10 season. Heroes was DOA with just under 5.8 million viewers and just a 2.7 demo. As we know, the numbers will only get worse as the season progresses. Leno continues to fall.... hard. Just 5.7 million viewers and under a 2 in the demo.

ABC pulled in good numbers, but has to be concerned with the aging Dancing With the Stars. It only managed 17.4 million viewers and had its lowest premiere ever. Castle's numbers will not be good either once Finals come in. We should see the sophomore series pull in under 9 million viewers and a low 2 in the demo. That is about 50% retention of the Dancing audience.

CBS had a very good night. Back to its original time slot, How I Met You Mother generated 9.2 million viewers and a solid 3.5 demo rating. New series, Accidentally On Purpose did hold on to about 98% of the viewers and 91% in the demo. The real test for AOP will be week #2. Will viewers come back.

At 9pm, CBS continued solid numbers with Two and a Half Men (13. 6 million viewers, 4.4 demo) and 3rd year series, Big Bang Theory (12.8 million viewers, 4.6 demo). BBT held on to a strong 94% retention of the viewers and grew by 5% in the demo. The 9pm hour hour may see more growth next week as Lie To Me will premiere on FOX.

at 10pm, CSI: Miami generated very solid numbers out of BBT (13.7 million viewers, 4.3 demo) and was #1 in the time slot.

FOX was the BIG winner last night as the two hour season premiere of HOUSE drew an impressive 15.76 million viewers and a 6.2 demo rating. This was well above last years season premiere.

Winners - House, The Entire CBS Lineup

Good, but slipping - DWtS

Losers - Heroes, Leno, The CW, Castle