Although NBC's "Heroes" is still about 30% weaker than one year ago, the sci-fi drama managed to go back up to over 11 million viewers on Monday night with a much-hyped sweeps episode that went back in time to explain the events that took place after the first season finale.

NBC has pulled the plug on Heroes: Origins, the Heroes spin-off that was slated to run next April. The network declined comment, but sources said the possible strike by the Writers Guild of America — which could happen after the guild's contract expires midnight Thursday — played a role in the decision.

"Looking at everything in context of the strike, we’re evaluating all of our production commitments," said one insider. "Scripts haven’t been written yet."

Origins was designed to provide fans with six episodes of a fresh Heroes-related show in place of repeats in the spring. If the labor situation changes quickly, the network could revisit the decision to scrap the show. — Reporting by Stephen Battaglio

"Heroes," the network's signature show on Monday night, earned a 6.3 rating/10 share according to Fast National Ratings from Nielsen Media Research, finishing behind "Dancing with the Stars" and "Samantha Who" on ABC and comedies from CBS. It was able to beat "K-Ville" on Fox, but with a 4.2/6, it seems that everyone is beating that show.

little better news coming for NBC in its Monday night lineup as both "Heroes" and its lead-in "Chuck" built on audiences from the previous week to become a little more competitive to begin the week.
"Heroes" earned a 6.8 rating/10 share according to Fast National ratings from Nielsen Media Research, doing better than the 6.4/9 it earned last week, and helping it to beat the baseball playoffs on Fox.

"Heroes" had a considerable amount of competition, especially from ABC, which had its last half-hour of "Dancing With the Stars" as well as the series premiere of "Samantha Who?" -- one of the best series premieres so far this season -- that

'HEROES' RETURNS AS MONDAY'S #1 SHOW IN ADULTS 18-49
Published: September 25, 2007

SECOND-SEASON DEBUT OF 'HEROES' TOPS ITS YEAR-AGO SERIES PREMIERE BY 10 PERCENT IN 18-49

'CHUCK' OPENS WITH NBC'S TOP MONDAY 8-9 P.M. RATING SINCE APRIL 30

'JOURNEYMAN' OPENS AT #2 IN THE MONDAY 10 P.M. HOUR AND #1 AMONG MEN 18-34

BURBANK, Calif. – September 25, 2007 – The second-season debut of "HEROES" was Monday night's #1 show in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49, according to preliminary "fast affiliate-based" "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research. In the key 18-49 category, the season debut of "HEROES" jumped 10 percent above the show's series premiere last year on September 25, 2006.

Last night at 9 p.m. ET, "HEROES" (6.5 rating, 15 share in adults 18-49, 14.1 million viewers overall) returned as the night's #1 program in adults 18-49, topping such competition as ABC's season premiere of "Dancing With the Stars," CBS' season premieres of "Two and a Half Men" and "CSI: Miami" and Fox's "Prison Break."

"HEROES" delivered the highest 18-49 rating for any entertainment telecast on any network since the season finale of Fox's "House" on May 29.

"HEROES" won both its half-hours in adults 18-49, topping the final half-hour of "Dancing With the Stars" from 9-9:30 p.m. ET. Among adults 18-34, "HEROES" doubled its closest competition (7.3 vs. a 3.6 for ABC's "Dancing"/"Bachelor" combo). Among men 18-34, "HEROES" tripled its closest competitor (7.8 vs. a 2.5 for CBS's comedies).

This marks the top-scoring episode of "HEROES" in both 18-49 and total viewers since March 5. Versus its year-ago series-debut 18-49 results (a 5.9/14 on September 25, 2006), "HEROES" grew by 10 percent.

At 8 p.m. ET, the series premiere of "Chuck" (3.6/9 in 18-49, 9.3 million viewers overall) scored NBC's highest 18-49 rating in this time period since April 30. Pending updates, "Chuck" ranked #2 in the time period in 18-49 and total viewers and #1 in all key adult male demographics, versus competition that included the season premiere of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars," the season premiere of CBS' "How I Met Your Mother" and the series premiere of "The Big Bang Theory," and Fox's "Prison Break." Versus NBC's average in this time period last May, when the competition also included ABC's "Dancing With the Stars," "Chuck" was up 16 percent in 18-49 (3.6 vs. 3.1).

"Chuck" built by 18 percent in 18-49 rating from its first to its second half-hour (to a 3.9/10 from a 3.3/9).

At 10 p.m. ET, the premiere of "Journeyman" (3.7/9 in 18-49, 9.5 million viewers overall) improved on NBC's performance in this time period for last May's sweep by 37 percent in 18-49 (3.7 vs. 2.7) and by 44 percent in total viewers (9.5 million vs. 6.6 million). Pending updates, "Journeyman" ranked #2 in the hour in adults 18-49 and #1 among men 18-34.

Preliminary 18-49 averages for Monday night are: ABC, 4.7/12; NBC, 4.6/11; CBS, 4.2/10; Fox, 2.7/7; CW, 0.7/2. In overall total viewers, September 24 preliminary results are: ABC, 15.4 million; CBS, 12.2 million; NBC, 11.0 million; Fox, 6.7 million; CW, 1.7 million

In local-market late-night results last night, "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (4.3 rating, 11 share in metered-market households) defeated CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman" (3.4/9), and ABC's "Nightline" (3.2/8) and "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (1.5/5 with an encore telecast).

At 12:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" (1.9/7) beat CBS' "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.7/6) and the second half of Kimmel.

Note that all national ratings are "live plus same day" unless otherwise indicated. Metered-market household ratings are live only.