Ratings for 'DWTS' sizzle; dramas are cold

What's hot? "Dancing With the Stars."

What's not? Some of TV's biggest dramas.

We are, friends, three weeks into the 2010 fall season, and we have trends. Those big genre- defining dramas? Year after year, some of them are down. "They are starting to see some erosion, or fraying around the edges," says Brad Adgate, chief of research for ad firm Horizon Media.

Alarming? Not necessarily - unless you're a fan of "House," which is off dramatically. "Grey's Anatomy"? Down as well.

Here's my quick night-by- night snapshot of the first three weeks of the season, with an asterisk: The figures below are estimates based on total viewers plus so-called "seven-day" DVR playbacks, which add millions of viewers to a show's benchmark performance. Let's get to it:

Monday "DWTS" is booming - 20 million viewers in the most recent week, or up 2 million from a year ago. On CBS, "Two and a Half Men" is having a torrid start, too. But "House" - at least by "House" standards - is an iceberg. Last week's episode was seen by around 14 million, including DVR viewers, down about 4 million from a year ago.

Tuesday CBS' "NCIS" and "NCIS: LA" are doing just fine as TV's top dramas, tracking about the same as last year, and "The Good Wife" is in good shape, too. "Glee," too - about 13 million (counting DVRs), compared to about 8 million this time last year. NBC's "The Biggest Loser" is down a couple million from '09.

Wednesday "Survivor" has easily survived the move to Wednesday, while "Criminal Minds" has added more viewers to even last year's terrific start. Great news for "Modern Family" - up to about 14 million, or 4 million over '09 at this time.

Thursday "Grey's" is the big story here, with about 15 million (counting DVRs), or off about 2 million from same time in '09. "CSI" is roughly the same, although its year-to-year decline is less than "Grey's." Good start for "The Mentalist" - not for "The Apprentice."

Friday "CSI: NY" (around 12 million) is the easy winner on an otherwise lackluster night for returning series.

Sunday "CSI: Miami" easily made the move to a new night, and "Desperate Housewives" is about equal to this time last season.