nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for thursday, april 28, 2011)

Here are the highlights of the 17 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

FOX (14.41 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.2, #1) held off the competition yet again on Thursday with new episodes of "American Idol" (19.02 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.5, #1) and "Bones" (9.81 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.8, #6).

CBS (10.98 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T2) and NBC (5.27 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T2) then split the silver as the former offered up new episodes of "The Big Bang Theory" (10.48 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.2, #5), "Rules of Engagement" (7.77 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T8), "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (10.52 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T8) and "The Mentalist" (13.28 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.6, #7).

As for NBC, the Peacock offered up a new "Community" (3.59 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T13), a repeat of "The Office" (3.15 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T13) and new episodes of (half-hour results only) "The Office" (8.25 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 4.1, #2), "The Office/Parks & Recreation" (8.00 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 4.0, #3), "Parks & Recreation" (4.65 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T8) and "30 Rock" (3.96 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.9, #12). The 9-9:30 results currently stand as "The Office's" top figures since the January 20 telecast.

Next up was ABC (7.97 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #4) with its "20/20: The Royal Wedding - A Modern Fairytale" (6.92 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.3, #15) special followed by new episodes of "Grey's Anatomy" (10.32 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.5, #4) and "Private Practice" (6.67 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.2, #11).

And finally, new episodes of "The Vampire Diaries" (2.60 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 1.2, #16) and "Nikita" (1.74 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 0.6, #17) on The CW (2.17 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): The Office (24.20%), The Vampire Diaries (9.10%), Community (0.00%), American Idol (-1.80%), Rules of Engagement (-8.00% vs. 4/7/11), Parks & Recreation (-8.00%), The Mentalist (-10.30% vs. 4/7/11), The Big Bang Theory (-11.10% vs. 4/7/11), Bones (-12.50%), 30 Rock (-13.60%), CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (-17.90% vs. 4/7/11), Private Practice (-18.50% vs. 3/31/11), Nikita (-25.00%), Grey's Anatomy (-27.10% vs. 3/31/11).

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

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets (the Birmingham market is delayed), household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 2.9/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.7/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.5/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.7/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.0/4; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 1.2/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/5 in metered-market households) tied CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.5/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.7/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 in metered-market households and a 0.5/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (4/29/10):

CBS (13.59 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.4, #1) pulled in front on Thursday thanks to new episodes of "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains" (12.57 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.0, #1), "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (13.53 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #T5) and "The Mentalist" (14.69 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.2, #4).

The silver then went to ABC (7.75 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #2) with new episodes of "FlashForward" (5.13 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.5, #14), "Grey's Anatomy" (10.32 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.8, #2) and "Private Practice" (7.80 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.0, #T5).

Next up was NBC (5.07 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.4, #3) with fresh installments of "Community" (4.60 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T9), "Parks & Recreation" (4.27 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T9), "The Office" (7.09 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.6, #3), "30 Rock" (5.69 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.9, #7) and "The Marriage Ref" (4.40 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T9).

Meanwhile, FOX (7.35 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #4) offered up new epsiodes of "Bones" (9.14 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.6, #8) and "Fringe" (5.57 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T9).

And finally, new episodes of "The Vampire Diaries" (3.40 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.6, #13) and "Supernatural" (2.38 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.1, #15) on The CW (2.89 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.3, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research