Fear Factor Returns to Strong Ratings

Given just how troubling the ratings are across the board at NBC, the network has to be happy with the return of Fear Factor last night. The reality series, off the air since 2006, returned with a 3.4 adults 18-49 (and over 8.5 million viewers), reports TVByTheNumbers , far better than the network has done on Mondays in quite a while – and, more notably, better than almost any NBC show does at all these days. (For a comparison, The Office had a 2.9 last week).

Granted, premieres tend to have inflated numbers and Fear Factor benefited from several shows – including House and How I Met Your Mother – not having new episodes this week. But we'll see how the show, which is only scheduled to air for a few weeks until The Voice returns, holds up and whether it leads to NBC quickly ordering more episodes.

Meanwhile, FOX's Terra Nova had a 2.1 with adults 18-49 (and 6.9 million viewers), which ties with the show's lowest rating so far. Next week is the season finale, and FOX will then have a big decision to make in the coming months. Terra Nova's ratings aren't terrible, but they aren't great, and the show is especially expensive for network TV.

Per usual, Monday night's winner was the CBS lineup, led by Two and a Half Men with a 4.6 adult 18-49 rating and 14.71 million viewers.

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