nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, november 20, 2010)

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

FOX (5.16 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.8, #1) held onto the adults 18-49 crown on Saturday thanks to its usual mix of "Cops" (5.22 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.8, #1) and "America's Most Wanted" (5.09 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.7, #2).

ABC (5.38 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #2) then claimed the silver with its weekly "Saturday Night College Football" (5.38 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #3) coverage.

Next up was CBS (6.00 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.2, #3) with repeats of "NCIS: Los Angeles" (5.41 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #6) and "Criminal Minds" (5.77 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.2, #5) followed by a new "48 Hours Mystery" (6.81 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.4, #4).

And finally, coverage of "Army vs. Notre Dame at Yankee Stadium" (2.91 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.7, #7) on NBC (2.91 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) rounded out the evening.

And in late-night, a new "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 4.7 household rating, 12 share in the metered markets.

Here are the highlights of the nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (11/21/09):

ABC (5.34 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T1) and FOX (5.18 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T1) shared top honors on Saturday as the latter offered up its usual mix of "Cops" (5.16 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T1) and "America's Most Wanted" (5.20 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T3).

The Alphabet then served up its weekly presentation of "Saturday Night College Football" (5.34 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T3).

Next up was CBS (6.04 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3) with repeats of "The Mentalist" (5.26 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.1, #7), "48 Hours Mystery" (5.60 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #6) and a new "48 Hours Mystery" (7.26 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T1).

And finally, repeats of "Mercy" (2.16 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.4, #9), "Law & Order" (4.27 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.9, #8) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.78 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #5) on NBC (4.07 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #4) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research