nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, may 14, 2011)

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

ABC (3.98 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #1) was the network to beat on Saturday with its timely rebroadcast of "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" (3.98 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T1).

FOX (3.80 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2) then took home the silver with its "MLB Primetime" (3.80 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4) primetime coverage.

Next up was CBS (5.40 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #3) with encores of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (4.56 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #7) and "The Mentalist" (5.04 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T5) followed by a new "48 Hours Mystery" (6.60 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T1).

And finally, the penultimate week of "Chase" (2.77 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #8) led into repeats of "Law & Order: Los Angeles" (3.67 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T5) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.01 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #3) on NBC (3.82 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #4).

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

"Saturday Night Live" (4.9/12 in metered-market households), hosted by Ed Helms with musical guest Paul Simon, dominated its time period. "SNL" was the #1 telecast of the night in metered-market households ahead of all primetime programming on ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 2.9 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49, making it the #1 telecast of the night ahead of all primetime programs on ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox. This is the highest "SNL" rating in the Local People Meters since March 12.

Here are the highlights of the nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (5/15/10):

FOX (4.36 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.3, #1) lead Saturday with its mainstays "Cops" (4.20 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T1) and "America's Most Wanted" (4.53 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T1).

A silver medal then went to CBS (3.58 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #2) with the feature "The Bourne Ultimatum" (3.57 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T4) and the primetime portion of "48 Hours Mystery" (3.66 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T4).

Next up was NBC (3.55 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T3) with repeats of "Parenthood" (2.06 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.5, #9), "Law & Order" (3.73 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T7) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.86 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.2, #3).

And finally, second runs of "Just Like Heaven" (3.63 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T4) and "Castle" (3.53 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T7) on ABC (3.60 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T3) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research