CBS's special 90-minute CSI: Miami episode swamped the premiere of NBC's three-part $25 Million Dollar Hoax reality hoax miniseries on Monday. Facing a special tidal wave-themed CSI: Miami episode that began 30-minutes before $25 Million Dollar Hoax's 10PM ET/PT debut, Hoax's premiere drew 7.1 million overall viewers and a 3.2/8 rating/share in the Adults 18-49 demographic.

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While the performance was somewhat disappointing, given CBS's November sweeps stunt scheduling, it was not unexpected. Ranked as the 2004 Fall season's fourth most watched program, CSI: Miami has averaged over 20 million weekly viewers, and its special Monday, November 8 sweeps broadcast proved even more popular, averaging 22 million viewers.

While falling short of the ratings performance delivered by Average Joe (last season's previous reality occupant of NBC's Monday 10PM time period), $25 Million Dollar Hoax performed significantly better than the time period's last regular occupant -- NBC's LAX drama. Compared to LAX's last broadcast in the time period on October 18, Hoax delivered a 16% increase in viewers and an even more impressive 39% increase among Adults 18-49 (3.2/8 versus 2.3/5.)

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