Primetime Ratings: Daytona 500 Drives Fox to Monday Win

‘Two and a Half Men' hits series low; ‘Smash' shows slight growth

By Tim Baysinger -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/28/2012 12:00:28 PM

Due to a rain delay, Fox's coverage of the Daytona 500 was pushed to Monday night, bumping its regular lineup for a week. The net was able to inch by NBC for the win with an overall 4.5 rating/11 share in the 18-49 demo, according to Nielsen overnight numbers. Those numbers reflect only from 8-11 p.m.; the race went well past midnight ET. (As with live events, ratings are subject to higher-than-normal adjustments)

NBC was right behind with a 4.4/11, as each net suffered from the increased competition. The Voice was down 10% from last week to a 5.4, while Smash was one of the few series show improvement, rising up a tenth to a 2.4.

CBS was in third with a 3.1/8, as much of its lineup was down to season/series lows. Mike & Molly and Hawaii Five-0 were both down to season lows at 2.9 and 2.5, respectively. Two and a Half Men was down 14% to a series-low 3.6; freshman comedy 2 Broke Girls was down 8% to a 3.7, its lowest rating so far. How I Met Your Mother was also down 5% to a 3.6.

ABC drew an overall 2.4/6, and actually showed improvement across its Monday lineup. The Bachelor was up 4% to a 2.6 and Castle went up 5% to a 2.5.

The CW rounded out the evening with an overall 0.5/1. Gossip Girl was steady in A18-49 with another 0.5 and up 40% in A18-34 with a 0.7. Hart of Dixie drew a 0.5 in A18-49 and 0.6 in A18-34.