nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, january 8, 2011)

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

NBC (28.82 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 10.2, #1) got a huge spark from the "AFC Wild Card Playoff: New York at Indianapolis" (28.82 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 10.2, #1) last night.

CBS (5.02 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2) then laid claim to the leftovers with repeats of "Blue Bloods" (4.27 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T6) and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (5.49 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #3) followed by a new "48 Hours Mystery" (5.31 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #4).

Next up was ABC (2.66 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2) with encores of "Wipeout" (4.09 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.2, #2) and "The Bachelor" (1.94 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T6).

And finally, the original movie "Change of Plans" (2.96 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5) on FOX (2.96 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) rounded out the evening.

And in late-night, a new Jim Carrey-hosted "Saturday Night Live" averaged a monster 7.8 household rating, 18 share in the metered markets, the show's best numbers since Betty White's episode on May 8, 2010 (8.8/21).

Here are the highlights of the eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/9/10):

A monster turn out of the "NFL Wild Card Playoff: Philadelphia at Dallas" (28.68 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 10.4, #1) lifted NBC (28.68 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 10.4, #1) to a towering finish on Saturday.

A distant silver then went to FOX (5.10 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #2) with a full hour of "Cops" (5.11 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.7, #2) and a new "America's Most Wanted" (5.09 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #3).

Next up was CBS (3.68 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T3) with repeats of "Ghost Whisperer" (2.82 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T7), "NUMB3RS" (2.88 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T7) and a new "48 Hours Mystery" (5.34 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4).

And finally, repeats of "The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love" (2.25 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #6) and "Castle" (3.44 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5) on ABC (2.65 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T3) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research