Ratings: Gotham Cops Good Numbers But Sleepy Slips, Blacklist Returns Strong, Bang Still Very Big, Voice Drops

Annnnnd…. we’re off!

The Fall TV season began in earnest on Monday, with The Big Bang Theory‘s season-opening double-pump dominating the night with 18.1 million total viewers and a 5.4 demo rating (per finals) — up from its May finale and matching its year-ago, Thursday premiere.

Leading out of that, Scorpion — which TVLine readers gave an average grade of “B” — launched with 13.8 mil and a 3.2, up sharply from both what CBS sitcoms averaged in the 9 o’clock hour a year ago (8.4 mil/2.7) and Hostages‘ premiere (7.5 mil/1.8, at 10 pm).

Under the Dome‘s season finale (average grade: “B-“) closed the Eye’s night with 7.6 mil/1.8, up 9 percent and two tenths week-to-week.

Elsewhere….

FOX | Gotham (average grade: “B+”) debuted to 8.2 million viewers and a strong 3.2 rating, up from both Bones‘ year-ago performance (7.8 mil/2.3) as Monday’s lead-off hitter and giving Fox its best Mondays-at-8 series launch since Prison Break in 2005. Sleepy Hollow followed with 5.5 mil/2.0, down from both its year-ago debut (10 mil/3.5) and its January finale (6.9 mil/2.3), but it should be noted that this show’s a big DVR gainer.

NBC | The Voice returned to 13 mil/3.9, dropping 13 and 23 percent from its previous fall opener (and well shy of its February premiere, 15.9 mil/4.7), hitting a series low for a premiere. The Blacklist (12.3 mil/3.4) was off 10 percent from its Season 1 premiere, yet scored its second-best demo rating ever.

ABC | Dancing With the Stars (12.8 mil/2.2) dipped 6 and 8 percent versus stiffer competition, while Forever sneak-peeked to 8.6 mil/1.7 (versus Castle‘s year-ago 11.5 mil/2.2), outdrawing the Dome finale.

THE CW | Top Model (800K/0.3) was down 20 and 25 percent.

NEXT MONDAY: CBS’ Mom and NCIS: Los Angeles and ABC’s Castle premiere.

Want scoop on any of the above shows? Email insideline@tvline.com and your question may be answered via Matt’s Inside Line.