ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" had its lowest-rated premiere in its history as NBC's "The Voice" dipped but still took the evening's top ratings spot and earned NBC the best overall ratings of the night, according to preliminary numbers.
NBC came in first in ratings and second in total viewership with an average 3.8 rating/10 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and 10 million total viewers. "The Voice" at 8 p.m. was down 13 percent in the demo from last week for a season low of 4.5/12, with 11.8 million total viewers. "Smash" at 10 inched down to a season low of 2.3/6 in the demo and 6.7 million total viewers.
ABC tied for second with CBS in the demo with an average 3.1/8 in the demo, but took a decisive first place in total viewers with an average 16.3 million total viewers. The viewership average was thanks largely to the "Dancing With the Stars" premiere, the most-watched show of the night with 18.5 million total viewers. But in the demo, the show was down 34 percent from last spring's premiere to a 3.5/9 -- the show's lowest rating ever for a premiere. "Castle" at 10 grew 14 percent over its last original airing three weeks ago, taking a 2.4/6, with 11.8 million total viewers.
CBS tied for second place in ratings in the demo and took third in total viewers with an average 9.5 million total viewers. "How I Met Your Mother" at 8 declined slightly from its last original three weeks ago to hit a season low of 3.4/10 in the demo with 8.2 million total viewers. "2 Broke Girls" at 8:30 was likewise down, slipping 11 percent to a season low of 3.4/9 and 9.2 million total viewers. "Two and a Half Men" at 9 inched up from its season low three weeks ago to receive a 3.8/9 in the demo and 11.3 million total viewers. "Mike & Molly" at 9:30 also came back from a season low, climbing 10 percent for a 3.2/8 in the demo. It had 9.8 million total viewers. "Hawaii 5-0" at 10 ran flat with its last original three weeks ago, taking a 2.5/6 in the demo, and had 9.1 million total viewers.
Fox was in fourth place in ratings and total viewers with an average 1.8/5 and 5.4 million. "House" at 8 dropped 17 percent in the demo from its last original airing four weeks ago, taking a 2.0/6 with 5.8 million total viewers. "Alcatraz" at 9 dipped slightly from last week, receiving a 1.5/4 in the demo and 5 million total viewers.
