Nellie Andreeva

The broadcast lights started to turn on last night with three out of five English-language networks — ABC, CBS and NBC — airing all-original lineups. ABC’s The Bachelor opened its new cycle with a 2.4/6 in adults 18-49 and 7.7 million total viewers. It was down 17% from the January premiere last year. The preview of Celebrity Wife Swap (2.4/6, 6.2 million) received solid sampling ahead of its premiere tonight, holding 100% of the Bachelor demo lead-in.

The broadcast networks faced the Fiesta Bowl, which aired in primetime on the East Coast and may have affected the more male-skewing CBS and NBC lineups. CBS’ How I Met Your Mother (3.9/9, 10.2 million) was down 13% from its most recent original three weeks ago. 2 Broke Girls (4.3/10, 12 million) appears well underway to become the new top-rated Monday program among adults 18-49. The rookie was up a tenth from its last original and finished only a tenth behind CBS’ flagship Monday series Two  And A Half Men (4.4/10, 13.8 million), which was down 6%. Mike & Molly (3.8/9, 11.9 million) was down 5% in 18-49, while Hawaii Five-0 (2.9/7, 11.7 million) was up a tenth. CBS swept every half-hour of primetime for a dominating nightly victory in 18-49 (3.7/9) and total viewers (11.9 million). NBC’s Who’s Still Standing? (1.5/3, 5.6 million) was even with last week, while Fear Factor (2.4/5, 5.9 million) was down a tenth. Rock Center With Brian Williams (1.2/3, 3.8 million) continued its big ratings swings off a very small base, up 50%.

TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.