nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for monday, february 14, 2011)

Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

CBS (11.21 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.4, #1) snagged top honors on Monday thanks to a new "How I Met Your Mother" (9.60 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.7, #3) followed by the premiere of "Mad Love" (8.84 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.0, #5) and new episodes of "Two and a Half Men" (14.53 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.2, #1), "Mike & Molly" (13.12 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.8, #2) and "Hawaii Five-0" (10.59 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.8, #7). "Love's" debut however couldn't match last week's numbers for "Rules of Engagement" (9.48 million viewers; adults 18-49: 3.2).

ABC (9.09 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.7, #T2) then took home the silver with new episodes of "The Bachelor" (9.26 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.9, #6) and "Castle" (8.75 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.2, #8).

FOX (8.60 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.7, #T2) then offered up a new "House" (9.91 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.4, #4) and week two of "The Chicago Code" (7.29 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.0, #9).

Meanwhile, NBC (6.01 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) offered up its mix of "Chuck" (5.48 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T10), "The Cape" (4.07 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.2, #12) and "Harry's Law" (8.49 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T10).

And finally, new episodes of "90210" (1.38 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T13) and "Gossip Girl" (1.31 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T13) on The CW (1.35 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5) closed out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Mike & Molly (5.60%), Hawaii Five-0 (0.00%), Harry's Law (0.00%), Chuck (0.00%), How I Met Your Mother (-2.60%), Two and a Half Men (-4.50%), The Bachelor (-6.50%), The Cape (-7.70%), Castle (-12.00%), Gossip Girl (-12.50%), The Chicago Code (-16.70%), House (-20.90%), 90210 (-22.20%).

In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release):

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 3.2/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.9/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.9/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.4/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.0/5; "Late Show," 0.8/4; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/5 in metered-market households) tied CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.4/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/4 in 18-49) tied "Late Late Show" (0.5/3).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.3/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (2/15/10):

Night four of the "Winter Olympics 2010" (25.49 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.2, #1) had no trouble lifting NBC (25.49 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.2, #1) to the top spot on Monday.

A distant silver then went to ABC (9.58 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #2) with a new "The Bachelor" (11.52 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.1, #2) and a repeat of "Castle" (5.69 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.5, #10).

Next up was CBS (8.14 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.6, #3) with its all-repeat lineup of "How I Met Your Mother" (5.86 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T6), "Accidentally on Purpose" (5.54 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.0, #9), "Two and a Half Men" (10.55 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.3, #4), "The Big Bang Theory" (10.01 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.6, #3) and "CSI: Miami" (8.42 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T6).

Meanwhile, FOX (7.66 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.5, #4) offered up a repeat of "House" (6.83 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T6) and a new "24" (8.49 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.7, #5).

And finally, new episodes of "One Tree Hill" (1.87 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T11) and "Life Unexpected" (1.82 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T11) on The CW (1.84 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research