Ratings: Daytona 500 Drives CBS' Men to Series Low, Leads Fox to Monday Win; Smash Rises

Fox’s impromptu primetime coverage of a rain-delayed Daytona 500 rained on everyone else’s parade, driving almost every rival down in viewership.

What’s more, by averaging 14.24 million total viewers and a 4.5 demo rating, Fox’s NASCAR coverage about doubled its typical House/Alcatraz numbers and thus led the network to a rare Monday win on both counts.

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The night’s other headline belongs to NBC’s Smash, which with 6.9 million total viewers and a 2.4 rating enjoyed week-to-week gains of 6 and 4 percent. Might the musical drama wind up singing a happy renewal tune after all?

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Going hour-by-hour….

8 pm | The Voice drew 14.8 mil and a 5.4, dipping 8 and 10 percent week-to-week. How I Met Your Mother (9.1 mil/3.6) slipped a few percentage points, while 2 Broke Girls (10.1 mil/3.7) fell 11 and 7 percent. The Bachelor (8 mil/2.6) gained a tenth in the demo. Gossip Girl held steady in the demo (at 0.5) but gained 16 percent in audience (to 1.17 million viewers).

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9 pm | Even the resilient Two and a Half Men (11.8 mil/3.6) was not immune to NASCAR’s impact, dropping 11 and 14 percent to series lows; Mike & Molly (10.1 mil/2.9) was also down double digits. Hart of Dixie (1.4 mil/0.5) saw losses of 11 and 17 percent.

10 pm | Hawaii Five-0 led the hour with 9.44 million total viewers and a 2.5 demo rating, down 9 and 14 percent, respectively. Castle (9.1 mil/2.2) gained 5 percent in the demo to hit a five-week high, yet placed behind Smash in that measure.

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What were you tuned into this atypical Monday night?