The Bachelor is back, but not the strong ratings from last midseason. However, the premiere of season 15 averaged 9.00 million viewers and a 2.9 rating/7 share among adults 18-49.

Compared to one year earlier, this was a loss of 6 percent in total viewers and 12 percent in the demo.

The Bachelor helped lead-out Castle (9.61 million viewers; A18-49: 2.4/7), which built by 26 percent in both age categories opposite its previous first run on December 6, 2010.

Monday victory went to CBS with its successful combination of How I Met Your Mother (10.37 million viewers; A18-49: 3.9/11), Rules of Engagement (9.91 million viewers; A18-49: 3.4/9), Two and a Half Men (15.34 million viewers; A18-49: 4.6/11), Mike & Molly (12.59 million viewers; A18-49: 3.7/9) and Hawaii Five-0 (10.84 million viewers; A18-49: 2.8/8).

While How I Met Your Mother, Rules of Engagement and Two and a Half Men set season highs in total viewers, Mike & Molly slightly increased and Hawaii Five-0 held relatively steady in comparison with their previous first run performances on December 13, 2010.

FOX came in third in both age categories airing reruns of House (4.77 million viewers; A18-49: 1.4/4) and Lie to Me (3.88 million viewers; A18-49: 1.1/3) followed by NBC with repeats of Chuck (2.53 million viewers; A18-49: 0.7/2) and The Biggest Loser: Where Are They Now? (2.76 million viewers; A18-49: 1.0/3) and The CW with reruns of 90210 (1.11 million viewers; A18-49: 0.4/1) and Gossip Girl (0.76 million viewers; A18-49: 0.3/1).