Actor Jorge Garcia and Executive Producer J.J. Abrams, of the new drama series ''Alcatraz'' take part in a panel session at the FOX Winter TCA Press Tour in Pasadena, California
Actor Jorge Garcia and Executive Producer J.J. Abrams, of the new drama series ''Alcatraz'' take part in a panel session at the FOX Winter TCA Press Tour in Pasadena, California, January 8, 2012. Reuters

J.J. Abrams' latest offering Alcatraz was off to a good start Monday night, posting encouraging numbers with its two-hour premiere, while Two and a Half Men predictably took the night's top ratings slot, according to preliminary numbers.

The Alcatraz premiere, airing from 8 to 10 p.m., posted a 3.3 rating/8 share in the adults 18-49 demographic -- a 38 percent jump from the network's mid-season premiere of Chicago Code a year ago, and the highest-rated drama debut for Fox since Lie to Me in January 2009 -- and 10 million total viewers.

The Alcatraz premiere pushed Fox to second place in the ratings for the night, but CBS took a predictable overall win for the night with its strong Monday-night roster.

How I Met Your Mother climbed 13 percent from its last original airing two weeks ago, taking a 4.4/11 and 10.1 million total viewers. 2 Broke Girls at 8:30 was flat compared to two weeks ago, posting a 4.5/11 and 11.2 million total viewers. At 9, Two and a Half Men grabbed the brass ring with a 4.6/10 and 12.8 million total viewers, while Mike & Molly at 9:30 received a 3.8/9 and 11.1 million total viewers. The night closed for the network with Hawaii 5-0 at 10, received a 2.8/7 and 10.5 million total viewers.

Overall the network averaged a 3.8/9 and 11 million total viewers to put it on top of the heap for the night.

Meanwhile, at NBC, Betty White's 90th Birthday: A Tribute to America's Golden Girl from 8 to 9:30 gave the network the night's largest audience, with 13.8 million total viewers, and a 2.7/7 in the demographic. A preview airing of Betty White's Off Their Rockers followed, landing a 2.6/6 and 12.2 million total viewers. The two-hour block of White-related programming appeared to give Rock Center With Brian Williams a boost -- the news program, airing at 10, enjoyed an 86 percent leap with a 1.3/3 and 5.5 million total viewers.

ABC aired The Bachelor at 8, which drew a 2.4/8 and 7.3 million total viewers, followed by 'Castle at 10, which posted a 2.3/6 and 9.4 million total viewers.