Overnight TV Ratings -- "The Class" Shows Some

CBS's "The Class" probably did its best job ever in retaining the lead-in of "How I Met Your Mother." (Though they still drew only half the audience of timeslot winner "Deal Or No Deal.") I actualy watched the episode and remain unimpressed but struck by one thing: most of the weak new sitcoms want to be dramedies. They don't just deliver funny characters in funny situations a la "My Name Is Earl." They IMMEDIATELY want us to care about which characters hook up with which and feel for their thwarted romances etc. How about just making us laugh? "Mother," on the other hand, isn't a great show but the cast is so appealing I keep returning. Finally, Mondays aren't nearly as much fun without "Heroes" to dig into and "Studio 60" to gripe over. Go to MediaWeek's Marc Berman for the complete ratings rundown.

8 p.m.
1. Deal Or No Deal (NBC) -- 16.55 million viewers
2. How I Met Your Mother (CBS) -- 8.81 million/The Class (CBS) -- 8.74 million
3. Wife Swap r (ABC) -- 7.47 million
4. House r (FOX) -- 6.37 million
5. Everybody Hates Chris (CW) -- 2.84 million/All Of Us (CW) -- 2.83 million

9 p.m.
1. Two And A Half Men (CBS) -- 15.77 million/Old Christine (CBS) -- 12.1 million
2. Supernanny (ABC) -- 8.7 million
3. House r (FOX) -- 7.17 million
4. The Year Without A Santa Clause (NBC) -- 7.43 million
5. Girlfriends (CW) -- n/a/The Game (CW) -- n/a

10 p.m.
1. CSI: Miami (CBS) -- 15.9 million
2. The Year Without A Santa Clause (NBC) -- 7.43 million
3. What About Brian (ABC) -- 5.7 million