Season finale ratings: 'Castle,' 'House,' 'Big Bang'

UPDATED: The season finale of ABC’s Castle maintained some of its growth on Monday night despite lead-in Dancing With the Stars sinking to its lowest Monday rating for the current cycle.

Coming off ratings surges last week ABC’s Dancing (18.5 million viewers and a  4.2 national rating in the key adults 18-49 demographic) declined 12% and Castle (9.7 million, 2.4) fell 14%. On the bubble for a renewal, the Nathan Fillion mystery still seems likely to get a second season.

Otherwise, CBS and Fox tied to win the night in the adult demo, with CBS airing a steady finale for The Big Bang Theory (9.8 million, 3.7). CBS also aired How I Met Your Mother (8.8 million, 3.6) and Two and a Half Men, which hit a season-low (13.1 million, 4.5), followed by Rules of Engagement (10.1 million, 3.6). CSI: Miami (13.6 million, 3.9) was stable at 10 p.m.

Fox’s season finale of House (12.7 million, 4.7) was up a notch from last week and stood as the evening’s highest-rated show, though twist-ending 24 (9.8 million, 3.2) fell a notch.

NBC was fourth with Deal or No Deal (4.2 million, 1.1) and two hours of Medium (6.4 million, 2.0). The CW’s Gossip Girl (2.3 million, 1.2) climbed this week -- and beat NBC at 8 p.m. -- while One Tree Hill (2.3 million, 1.1) was steady.

NBC was fourth with Deal or No Deal (4.2 million, 1.0) falling and two hours of Medium (6.8 million, 2.1). The CW's Gossip Girl (2.3 million, 1.2) climbed this week -- and beat NBC at 8 p.m. -- while One Tree Hill (2.3 million, 1.1) was steady.

Here's Castle adult demo ratings for its midseason run ... note the recent spike after the show began receiving a direct lead-in from Dancing With the Stars (note: final number went down a tenth in the nationals)...

And here's House, which has seen some gradual erosion this season (note: final number went up a tenth in the nationals) ...

For May sweeps: Fox continues to lead among the adult demo. Compared to the same days last year, Fox is down 6%, NBC is up 5%, ABC is down 14%, CBS is down 7% and the CW is down 20%.