nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for monday, july 4, 2011)

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

NBC (6.28 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1) took home top honors on the Monday holiday with its presentation of "Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular" (8.65 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.1, #1). Bookending the broadcast were encores of "America's Got Talent" (4.86 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T3) and the aforementioned "Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular" (5.34 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2).

Said numbers marked a four-year high in 18-49 rating for the special and an 11-year high in total viewers.

CBS (4.88 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2) then snagged the silver with repeats of "How I Met Your Mother" (3.18 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T8), "Mike & Molly" (3.43 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.8, #10), "Two and a Half Men" (4.63 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T3), another "Mike & Molly" (4.90 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T5) and the new "Boston Pops Fireworks" (6.58 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T5).

Next up was ABC (3.06 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #3) with rebroadcasts of "The Bachelorette" (3.09 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.7, #11) and "Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition" (3.02 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.0, #7).

Meanwhile, FOX (1.92 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) offered up repeats of "Masterchef" (2.30 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T8) and "House" (1.55 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.5, #12).

And finally, The CW (0.43 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.2, #5) likewise went with repeats of "90210" (0.51 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.2, #13) and "Gossip Girl" (0.36 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.1, #14).

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," 2.4/6 with an encore telecast; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 1.9/5 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.6/6; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.0/3 with an encore.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.7/5 with an encore; "Late Show," 0.5/2 with an encore; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.3/2 with an encore.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.2/4 in metered-market households with an encore) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (0.9/3 with an encore). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.4/3 in 18-49 with an encore) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2 with an encore).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.7/3 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.3/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (7/5/10):

ABC (7.77 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.4, #1) claimed the top spot on Monday thanks to new episodes of "The Bachelorette" (9.09 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.7, #1) and "True Beauty" (5.11 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.7, #6).

CBS (6.93 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.8, #2) then took home the silver with its all-repeat lineup of "How I Met Your Mother" (4.78 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T8), "Rules of Engagement" (5.66 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.8, #5), "Two and a Half Men" (8.27 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3), "The Big Bang Theory" (8.45 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #2) and "CSI: Miami" (7.20 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #7).

Next up was NBC (3.89 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #3) with the Saturday-bound "Persons Unknown" (2.95 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T11) followed by a new "Last Comic Standing" (3.79 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T8) and a second "Last Comic Standing" (4.93 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.1, #4).

Meanwhile, FOX (3.06 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #4) was out of the hunt with repeats of "Lie to Me" (3.42 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.0, #10) and "The Good Guys" (2.69 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T11).

And finally, repeats of "90210" (0.80 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.3, #13) and "Gossip Girl" (0.45 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.2, #14) on The CW (0.62 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.2, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research