nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, may 31, 2011)

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

ABC (10.77 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.5, #1) narrowly took home top demo honors on Tuesday with its mix of "Jimmy Kimmel Live: Game Night" (6.30 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.2, #5), "NBA Countdown" (6.93 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.8, #4) and the "NBA Finals, Game 1" (12.84 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 5.5, #1).

NBC (14.77 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.4, #2) nevertheless was the most-watched network with the return of "America's Got Talent" (14.97 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.2, #3) and a new "The Voice" (14.38 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.9, #2).

Next up was CBS (9.04 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #3) with its all-repeat lineup of "NCIS" (11.12 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #6), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (9.86 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.6, #7) and "The Good Wife" (6.16 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.9, #10).

Meanwhile, FOX (2.61 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #4) offered up encores of "Glee" (2.81 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.0, #8) and "Raising Hope" (2.57 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.0, #9) as well as the final original "Traffic Light" (2.24 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.8, #11).

And finally, repeats of "One Tree Hill" (0.91 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.4, #12) and "Hellcats" (0.81 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.3, #13) on The CW (0.86 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): The Voice (28.90%), Traffic Light (-42.90% vs. 5/10/11).

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 with an encore telecast; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.2/5 with an encore. ABC's "Nightline" and "Jimmy Kimmel Live" were delayed by an NBA overrun.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.2/5 with an encore; "Late Show," 0.5/2 with an encore.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.6/5 in metered-market households with an encore) beat CBS's first-run "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.1/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.7/4 in 18-49 with an encore) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.0/4 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.5/4 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (6/1/10):

FOX (7.57 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.4, #1) squeezed out a close adults 18-49 win on Tuesday thanks to the return of "Hell's Kitchen" (6.16 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.9, #4) and the penultimate week of "Glee" (8.99 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.9, #1).

The competitive silver then went to NBC (10.42 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.3, #2) with the two-hour season premiere of "America's Got Talent" (12.29 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.6, #2) followed by the launch of "Losing It With Jillian" (6.67 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.7, #5).

Next up was ABC (8.02 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.8, #3) with a two-hour "Wipeout" (8.31 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.0, #3) special along with a Tuesday edition of "20/20" (7.45 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.4, #6).

Meanwhile, CBS (9.01 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) offered up repeats of "NCIS" (10.71 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.7, #8), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (9.27 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.8, #7) and "The Good Wife" (7.06 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.4, #9).

And finally, repeats of "90210" (0.81 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.4, #10) and "Life Unexpected" (0.78 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.3, #11) on The CW (0.79 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research