Ratings: Smash Opens Strong, The Voice Doesn't Falter

Smashlived up to its title, winning the final hour of Monday's prime time, and fresh off The Voice's Season 2 debut after the Super Bowl, it posted formidable numbers, making for a huge night for NBC.

Read our recap of The Voice

Smash pulled in an audience three-and-a-half times bigger than its time slot predecessor, Rock Center with Brian Williams. (It's good news for NBC, which has been particularly snake-bitten in that slot, quickly cancelling The Playboy Club after its premiere.) Nielsen overnight data indicates that The Voice grew its rating in the coveted 18-to-49 demo during each half-hour that it aired.

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NBC's solid showing throughout Monday took a toll on almost all the competition. Fox's two shows, House and Alcatraz, were each down nearly 20 percent, while CBS' sitcoms sustained their viewership numbers, but suffered decreases in the demo. Against Smash, Castleand Hawaii Five-0fell 13 percent and 9 percent, respectively. ABC's The Bachelor, however, remained remarkably constant.

Check out the rest of the day's news on TVGuide.com

8 p.m.
CBS: How I Met Your Mother9.99 million viewers (4.0 demo rating); 2 Broke Girls11.42 million (4.3)
ABC: The Bachelor8.24 million (2.6) {8-10 p.m.}
Fox: House7.16 million (2.4)
NBC: The Voice{8-10 p.m.} 17.69 million (6.6)
CW: Gossip Girl1.28 million (0.6)