First night ratings are in and...

..."The Event" soars.

..."Lone Star" bores...

  Now, let us add a cautionary note right here at the outset.  First night numbers are not always a total reveal, and networks have to wait a few weeks to get a real feel for traction.

  But there is an old law - it's much better to start off strong than start off weak.

  Here's what we know so far, thanks to trade reports in the Hollywood Reporter and Variety:

  - "Dancing with the Stars" had a booming night. (Thanks, Bristol! Thanks, Sitch! Thanks, Hoff! Thanks, Flo!)  21 million viewers. That's up 22 percent from last year's opener. No stories coming from Your's Truly about how "DWTS" is "aging" or  "losing franchise status," blah, blah, blah. Stronger than ever.

-  "Hawaii Five-0: 13.8 million. My sense is that's good, but maybe not quite as good as CBS had  hoped. I'm guessing CBS wanted around a 14.5 million sample, and maybe a 4 + 18-49 rating; it got a 3.8. Still, this was fine, and I suspect the show may even grow this number going forward.

  - "The Event:"  11.2 million. Well hoo-ray for "The Event." This is just an astounding number, and NBC is weeping with joy and disbelief right now. I kinda figured it would get 7 million viewers - just because of the network's fundamentally weaker position vis-a-vis competitors.I certainly liked "Event," and certainly think it deserves an audience. I'm just pleased to see it got this one.

- "Lone Star:" 4.1 million. This is a shocker, given that the Critical Brain Trust declared it a masterpiece in the making. Not to be a killjoy, but I didn't care much for the pilot - about a guy who's basically a two-timing Bernie Madoff wannabe. How do you make Madoff sympathetic? Beats me.