Preliminary Ratings: Monday 05/19/14

As we hit the home stretch of the May sweeps and the end of the 2013-14 season, we are in that period of series finales, season premieres and one off programming, to bridge the gap between the seasons.

 DANCING WITH THE STARS was Monday night's most watched program, drawing in over 15 million viewers. It also produced the second highest A18-49 rating of the night, with a 2.5 mark. The champion is crowned tonight in a two hour finale, on ABC.

Following DWTS was the season premiere of THE BACHELORETTE. Like most recent season of the franchise, ratings were soft for the first episode. It only beat the drama repeat on CBS, during the 10 p.m. hour. But, I expect the numbers to slowly rise as the season progresses.

CBS' utility player, MIKE & MOLLY finished their season. Initially regulated to a mid season run, the sitcom was called to action early, to fill the void of the WE ARE MEN cancellation. Now, it is the last of the regular season sitcoms to end it's season. The 7.0 million viewers and a 1.9 demo rating is very good considering it is surrounded by repeats and lame duck, mid-season comedy. Those ratings were self earned.

One of FOX's only bright spots of the season, BONES, finished off a season that saw it move nights twice, and defy the odds in getting good ratings on a Friday night. It weathered the storm and came out much like it began, with solid, consistent ratings each week.

NBC was the top dog of the night with the final Monday night of THE VOICE. You would think with the crowning of the champion on the night performances at stake, the ratings would climb to early season levels. But, sadly they don't THE VOICE end each season a little softer than when it begins.

The shocker of the night is the decent numbers THE MAYA RUDOLPH SHOW got following THE VOICE. It did lose 37% of the total lead in audience, but I would have expect a much bigger loss. The A18-49 numbers fared even better, losing just 29%. Could this be the beginning of a variety show revival?
 

Preliminary Network Averages:

ABC - 11 million viewers, 2.2 ating in A18-49

CBS - 5.8 million viewers, 1.5 rating in A18-49

CW - 0.7 million viewers, 0.2 rating in A18-49

FOX - 5.8 million viewers, 1.6 rating in A18-49

NBC - 10.1 million viewers, 2.8 rating in A18-49

Time	Net	Program	Viewers*	A18-49	+/-
8:00	ABC	Dancing With The Stars	15.10	2.5
9:30	ABC	The Bachelorette	7.00	1.9	-54%
8:00	CBS	2 Broke Girls [R]	4.90	1.3
8:30	CBS	Friends With Better Lives	5.10	1.6	4%
9:00	CBS	Mike & Molly	7.00	1.9	37%
9:30	CBS	Mom [R]	5.80	1.4	-17%
10:00	CBS	Criminal Minds [R]	5.90	1.3	2%
8:00	CW	Movie: District 9	0.70	0.2
8:00	FOX	Bones	5.90	1.6
9:00	FOX	24: Live Another Day	5.70	1.7	-3%
8:00	NBC	The Voice	11.50	3.1
10:00	NBC	The Maya Rudolph Show	7.20	2.2	-37%

* - in millions