Biblical tale can’t help ABC ratings

Moses couldn’t score a decent rating for ABC on Monday night. The first installment of “The Ten Commandments” drew a so-so 13.8 million total viewers (4.6 rating/11 share in the adults aged 18 to 49 demographic), according to figures from Nielsen Media Research. During the first hour (9 to 10 p.m.), “Commandments” yielded a second-place finish in the demo, behind Fox’s “24” (4.4 rating vs. 5.0). During the second hour, it was edged out by CBS’ “CSI: Miami” (4.7 vs. 5.2).

The miniseries wasn’t done in by extensive competition. CBS’ “CSI: Miami” and “Two and a Half Men” (4.5 rating/11 share; 14.1 million total viewers) fell to their lowest demo ratings ever for new episodes. The sitcoms “How I Met Your Mother” (2.6 rating/7 share) and “The New Adventures of Old Christine” (3.7 rating/9 share) also sank to their worst demo numbers.

NBC won the 8 p.m. hour with “Deal or No Deal” (4.2 rating/12 share in demo; 14.1 million total viewers), but drew last-place finishes with successive airings of Donald Trump’s rapidly fading “The Apprentice.”

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-- Scott Collins