CBS Monday comedies in springtime slumber

[April 18, 2012]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Competition is taking a bite out of television's most popular lineup of comedies.

The Nielsen Co. says viewership was down significantly for the CBS Monday comedies last week. Just over 10 million people watched "Two and a Half Men," the low point of the season in Ashton Kutcher's first year. The series has averaged more than 15 million people per episode this season.

The other comedies -- "Mike & Molly," "2 Broke Girls," and "How I Met Your Mother" -- were both about 2 million off their season averages.

Daylight savings time tends to cut into viewership this time of year. The comedies also face tougher fights from the competition shows "Dancing With the Stars" and "The Voice."

[Associated Press; By DAVID BAUDER]

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