nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, december 7, 2010)

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

With CBS (9.68 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #4) in repeats, FOX (8.30 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.3, #1) was the network to beat on Tuesday thanks to winter finales of "Glee" (11.04 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.4, #1) and "Raising Hope" (7.05 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.9, #3) followed by a new "Running Wilde" (4.06 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.7, #9).

Meanwhile, NBC (7.80 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.7, #2) served up the return of "Minute to Win It" (6.95 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T6) alongside a new "The Biggest Loser" (8.22 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.1, #2), which hit season highs in the key demographic.

Next up was ABC (7.05 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.0, #3) with an encore of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (8.03 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.6, #4) followed by new episodes of "No Ordinary Family" (6.31 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T6) and "Detroit 187" (6.81 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.4, #10).

The Eye then offered up the aforementioned repeats of "NCIS" (11.82 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.0, #5), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (10.36 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T6) and "The Good Wife" (6.87 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.3, #11).

And finally, new episodes of "One Tree Hill" (2.20 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.0, #12) and "Life Unexpected" (1.77 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.9, #13) on The CW (1.99 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Running Wilde (21.40%), Life Unexpected (12.50%), One Tree Hill (11.10%), Raising Hope (7.40%), The Biggest Loser (6.90%), No Ordinary Family (0.00%), Glee (-2.20%), Detroit 187 (-12.50%).

In late-night metered market ratings, ABC's "Nightline" (3.2/8) and CBS's "Letterman" (3.2/6) took top honors over NBC's "Leno" (2.9/7). Rounding out the night then were "Kimmel" (1.5/5) on ABC "Ferguson" (1.5/5) on CBS and "Fallon" (1.3/5) and "Daly" (0.8/4) on NBC.

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (12/8/09):

"The Biggest Loser" (13.43 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 5.0, #1) wrapped its season on top as NBC (11.75 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.3, #1) claimed top adults 18-49 honors. Leading out of said broadcast was a new "The Jay Leno Show" (8.40 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.9, #4).

The silver then went to CBS (12.11 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T2) despite an all-repeat lineup of "NCIS" (15.01 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.8, #5), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (12.16 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T6) and "The Good Wife" (9.17 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.9, #9).

Next up was ABC (6.89 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T2) with its mix of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (11.30 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.7, #3), "Prep & Landing" (12.14 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.1, #2), "Scrubs" (5.44 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.3, #8), the return of "Better Off Ted" (3.82 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.5, #10) and a repeat of "The Forgotten" (4.31 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.3, #11).

Meanwhile, FOX (6.23 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T2) offered up a new two-hour "So You Think You Can Dance" (6.23 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T6).

And finally, "90210" (1.93 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.0, #12) and "Melrose Place" (1.28 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.7, #13) on The CW (1.60 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research