Jewel and Nancy O’Dell’s loss was Dancing with the Stars’ gain. Despite being in its 8th season, the program saw its largest premiere audience to date. (I think we can safely attribute that to the Melissa Rycroft factor.) The reality show’s return easily gave ABC wins in both the viewers and the demos last night.

8pm

• Dancing with the Stars (22.5 million, 5.9/15 in 18-49) had its second best premiere demo so far.
• House (12.1 million, 4.8/13) took a 2.5 million hit.
• The Big Bang Theory (9.5 million, 3.6/10) lost 1.4 million; How I Met Your Mother (8.5 million, 3.5/9) gave up 2.6 million.
• Chuck (5.7 million, 2.0/5) had its smallest audience ever.
• Gossip Girl* (1.2 million, 0.5/1) did about the same.

9pm

• Two and a Half Men (13.3 million, 4.7/11 in 18-49) fell by 2.1 million.
• 24 (11.4 million, 3.6/9) raised 300,000.
• Rules of Engagement (10 million, 3.7/9) was down 1.9 million.
• Heroes (6.6 million, 3.2/8) shed 400,000.
• One Tree Hill* (1.2 million, 0.5/1) added on 220,000.

10pm

• CSI: Miami (14.2 million, 4.3/11 in 18-49) improved by 900,000.
• Approximately 11.6 million watched the premiere of Castle (3.3/9).
• Medium (7.1 million, 2.5/6) was on par with last week.

*denotes repeat

(You can review last Monday’s ratings here.)