Nellie Andreeva

UPDATE 2:45 PM: As expected, most CBS series were adjusted down in the finals after a bump in the fast nationals from a NFL pre-emption in Baltimore. But even with the adjustment, all CBS comedies posted gains vs. last week. The news is especially important for Two And A Half Men, which had been sliding every week since its hugely rated season premiere. Last night, Men logged a 5.5/13 in 18-49, up 4% from last week, and 15.3 million viewers, up 1%. The comedy starring Ashton Kutcher is still comfortably ahead of the performance the same week last fall with leading man Charlie Sheen, up 25% in 18-49. Mike & Molly (4.2/10 in 18-49) was up 8% week-to-week, 2 Broke Girls (4.5/11) was up 2% and How I Met Your Mother (4.3/12) also was up 2%. Hawaii Five-0 (3,1/8) was flat. For the night, CBS (4.1/10) edged Fox (3.9/10) in 18-49. Fox’s coverage of Game 4 of the World Series stretched beyond primetime, averaging a 4.2/11 from 8-11:40 PM.

PREVIOUS 9 AM: It is another Monday night where the ratings picture is too murky to draw conclusions based on fast national ratings. Fox carried Game 5 of the World Series, which in the fast nationals is running behind CBS in adults 18-49 and behind ABC in total viewers. But Fox’s average is expected to rise in the finals, so the races — especially the one in adults 18-49 — is too close to call. That’s because CBS’ fast national numbers were likely inflated by the local pre-emption in Baltimore, where the CBS station aired the NFL game. As a result, CBS’ series were up week-to-week across the board: How I Met Your Mother (4.3/12, up 2%), 2 Broke Girls (4.6/11, up 5%), Two And A Half Men (5.6/13, up 6%), Mike & Molly (4.4/10, up 13%), and Hawaii Five-0 (3.3/8, up 6%). ABC’s Dancing With The Stars (3.1/8) was down 6%, while Castle 2.5/6 was flat. ABC averaged a 2.9/7 in 18-49 and 15 million viewers for the night. NBC’s The Sing-Off (1.5/4) slipped 6%, followed by a Prime Suspect rerun (0.7/2), leading NBC (1.2/3, 3.6 million) to another No. 5 Monday finish behind its Big 4 rivals and Spanish-language Univision. The CW’s Gossip Girl (1.4 million, 0.6 in 18-49) was up 18% in total viewers and even in 18-49. Hart Of Dixie (2 million, 0.8/2) hit series highs in total viewers and all key demos; it was up 19% from last week in viewers, 33% in 18-49 and 13% in adults 18-34 (0.9/2).

TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.