A much needed explainer episode gave Heroes a nice boost.  Meanwhile, ABC danced away with last night’s best numbers overall.

8pm

• Dancing With The Stars (21.8 million, 5.2/13 in 18-49 demo) was the evening’s best performer.
• Both How I Met Your Mother (8.9 million, 3.3/9) and The Big Bang Theory (9.4 million, 3.8/9) were down from last week.
• Chuck (7.5 million, 3.0/7) was about even from last week.
• Prison Break (3.1/8) rounded up 7.2 million fans for its last fall episode.
• Everybody Hates Chris (2.72 million, 1.1/3) and Aliens in America (2.24 million, 0.9/2) both saw slight improvements.

9pm

• Outside of DWTS, Samantha Who? (14.3 million, 4.4/10 in 18-49 demo) had the hour’s largest audience.
• Two and a Half Men (14.2 million, 5.0/11) remained steady; Rules of Engagement (11.5 million, 4.2/10) was up about 500,000.
• Heroes (11.1 million, 5.1/12) saw 1.3 million more fans return.  It also had the hour’s best demos.
• K-Ville (4.7 million, 1.6/4) lost a good chunk from its lead-in.
• Girlfriends (2.2 million, 1.0/2) and The Game (2.55, 1.2/3) were both up from last Monday.

10pm

• CSI: Miami (15.4 million, 4.6/12 in 18-49 demo) was up about 1.2 million from last week.
• The Bachelor (9.2 million, 3.4/9) was down almost 1 million; Journeyman (6.2 million, 2.5/6) was up about the same.