nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, november 18, 2009)

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Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

CBS (11.49 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.1, #1) snagged the adults 18-49 crown on Wednesday thanks to new episodes of "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (7.45 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.2, #10), "Gary Unmarried" (7.17 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.5, #7), "Criminal Minds" (13.47 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.7, #T1) and "CSI: NY" (13.68 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.2, #T4).

FOX (6.48 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.7, #2) then had to settle for the silver with new episodes of "So You Think You Can Dance" (5.68 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 2.1, #11) and "Glee" (7.29 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.3, #3).

Next up was ABC (7.27 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.6, #3) with a repeat of "Modern Family" (6.16 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.9, #13) followed by new episodes of "The Middle" (7.10 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T8), "Modern Family" (9.16 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.7, #T1), "Cougar Town" (7.90 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.2, #T4) and another "In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts" (6.64 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T8) special.

Meanwhile, NBC (7.02 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.0, #4) offered up its mix of "Mercy" (7.79 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.0, #12), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (8.43 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.6, #6) and "The Jay Leno Show" (4.83 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.4, #15).

And finally, the season finale of "America's Next Top Model" (3.66 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.8, #14) and a special "America's Next Top Model" (1.81 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.8, #16) recap on The CW (2.74 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.3, #5) rounded out the evening.

Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (11/19/08):

CBS (households: 8.2/13, #1; adults 18-49: 3.5, #1) was the network to beat on Wednesday thanks to new episodes of "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (households: 5.2/8, #T4, half-hour: N/A; adults 18-49: 2.5, #5, half-hour: N/A), "Gary Unmarried" (households: 5.2/8, #T4, half-hour: N/A; adults 18-49: 2.7, #4, half-hour: N/A), "Criminal Minds" (households: 10.3/16, #1, half-hour: 8.08%; adults 18-49: 4.3, #1, half-hour: 12.50%) and "CSI: NY" (households: 9.2/16, #2, half-hour: -1.09%; adults 18-49: 3.8, #2, half-hour: 0.00%).

Second place then went to FOX (households: 5.2/8, #2; adults 18-49: 2.6, #2) with a new "Bones" (households: 6.7/11, #3, half-hour: 4.62%; adults 18-49: 3.2, #3, half-hour: 10.00%) followed by a repeat of "House" (households: 3.8/6, #9, half-hour: -2.63%; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T8, half-hour: 4.76%).

Next up was ABC (households: 4.0/6, #T3; adults 18-49: 2.0, #3) with the return of "Pushing Daisies" (households: 3.1/5, #13, half-hour: -15.15%; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T10, half-hour: -5.56%), "Private Practice" (households: 5.0/8, #7, half-hour: 8.33%; adults 18-49: 2.4, #6, half-hour: 8.70%) and "Dirty Sexy Money" (households: 3.9/7, #8, half-hour: -9.76%; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T10, half-hour: -15.79%).

Meanwhile, NBC (households: 4.0/6, #T3; adults 18-49: 1.8, #4) offered up new episodes of "Knight Rider" (households: 3.4/5, #11, half-hour: -2.94%; adults 18-49: 1.5, #13, half-hour: 0.00%), "Life" (households: 3.5/6, #10, half-hour: -5.56%; adults 18-49: 1.7, #12, half-hour: -5.88%) and "Law & Order" (households: 5.2/9, #T4, half-hour: 3.92%; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T8, half-hour: 4.76%).

And finally, the season finale of "America's Next Top Model" (households: 3.2/5, #12, half-hour: 13.33%; adults 18-49: 2.3, #7, half-hour: 19.05%) and a new "Stylista" (households: 1.6/2, #14, half-hour: -6.25%; adults 18-49: 1.0, #14, half-hour: 0.00%) on The CW (households: 2.4/4, #5; adults 18-49: 1.7, #5) closed out the night.

In the late-night metered markets, NBC's "Leno" (3.7/10) and CBS's "Letterman" (3.7/9) shared top honors over ABC's "Nightline" (3.2/8). Rounding out the night then were CBS's "Ferguson" (1.8/7), ABC's "Kimmel" (1.6/5) and "Conan" (1.7/6) and "Daly" (1.1/5) on NBC.

Source: Nielsen Media Research

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