Alyson Hannigan

US, February 20, 2008 - CBS has announced that when The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother return with new episodes on Monday, March 17th, they will be swapping time slots. The Big Bang Theory will now lead off the night at 8:00 pm ET/PT, followed by How I Met Your Mother at 8:30.

This is likely good news for How I Met Your Mother - Since its debut last fall, The Big Bang Theory has built on the ratings of Mother, going into the 9:00 hour and the huge hit Two and a Half Men. The Big Bang Theory has been renewed for next season, while Mother has not as yet (though most expect it will be). This shift in time slots seems like an attempt by CBS to use Big Bang and Two and a Half Men’s larger audiences to boost Mother, by placing it in-between them.