Ratings: 'Mike & Molly' Perks Up In Week 3 While 'The Event' Drops

http://www.deadline.com/2010/10/ratings-rat-race-abc-dances-to-another-monday-win-while-event-drops/

In its ratings pattern, NBC's new serialized drama The Event begins to resemble more ABC's last season sci-fi misfire FlashForward than the network's long-running mystery drama Lost. In its third airing last night, The Event drew a 2.4/6 among adults 18-49, down 17% from last week and 33% from its series premiere 2 weeks ago. The sci-fi-tinged conspiracy thriller is among the biggest gainers from time-shifted viewing, so its ratings will go up a bit but still, those are not declines you want to see week after week. Also sliding precipitously is NBC's new 10 PM drama Chase (1.7/5), down 19% week-to-week and 26% from the premiere. NBC's 8 PM dramedy Chuck (1.9/5) was down 5%. With all the declines, NBC finished distant fourth on what was expected to be one of the network's strongest nights this season built around new tentpole The Event.

Despite most of its Monday line-up being down week-to-week, CBS had a big reason to smile this morning: its new 9:30 PM comedy Mike & Molly (3.8/9) was up 3% from last week despite its lead-in, Two and a Half Men (4.5/11) being down 6% (That is an excellent hold of more than 84%.). Overall, all declines for CBS' series last night were pretty minimal, How I Met Your Mother (3.4/10, -13%), Rules of Engagement (3.0/8, -6%) and Hawaii Five-0 (3.5/9, -3%).

At Fox, the season premiere of Lie to Me (2.2/5) improved dramatically on Lone Star's dismal pre-cancellation performance last week. Still, the procedural squandered almost half of its House (3.9/11) lead-in.

ABC's numbers were probably boosted by an NFL game coverage in Boston. Still, Dancing with the Stars (4.3/11) continues a very strong season. It was down modest 10% from last week. Castle (3.0/8) was up 7% but its fast nationals are often inflated by a Dancing overrun and normally go down a notch in the finals. ABC easily won the night in 18-49 (3.9/10) and total viewers (17.4 million)

At CW, Gossip Girl (2.1 million total viewers, 1.8/5) hit season highs in both categories while 90210 (1.9 million, 1.3/4 in 18-34) was flat week-to-week. But the network's fast national numbers got a boost from an NFL game coverage in Miami.