Viewers ‘Listen’ to CBS slate

CBS, the most-watched network in the broadcast year that just ended, carried that over to the new season.

The series premiere of the Jason Alexander/Malcolm-Jamal Warner comedy “Listen Up” had a respectable 11.9 million viewers. The network’s other Monday comedies also finished first or second in viewers, and the third season debut of the drama “CSI: Miami” dominated at 10 p.m. with 22 million viewers. And the presence of presidential candidate John Kerry as a guest gave “The Late Show With David Letterman” a rare win over “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.”

The only other series debut Monday, UPN’s new comedy “Second Time Around,” started with fewer than 3 million viewers, finishing in last place at 9 p.m.

ABC, meanwhile, had a strong performance by “Monday Night Football” to counteract a soft showing by the second episode of the reality series “The Benefactor.”

But NBC has to be particularly worried by a weak showing for the season debut of “Fear Factor,” which with 9.7 million viewers was 4 million -- or 30% -- lower than the reality competition’s 2003 premiere. Equally troubling was the tumble for “LAX,” which drew just more than 8 million viewers, third in the time slot.

Faced with the competition, Fox’s Monday shows dipped slightly, while the WB was particularly pleased with “7th Heaven,” which finished in third place in its time slot.