nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for thursday, september 15, 2011)

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

CBS (8.06 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T1) was the most-watched network on Thursday with repeats of "The Big Bang Theory" (8.14 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T2), another "The Big Bang Theory" (8.70 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.6, #1) and a two-hour "The Mentalist" (7.87 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #4).

ABC (5.55 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T1) then shared the demo crown with the two-hour season finale of "Wipeout" "Wipeout" (6.72 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T2) alongside a repeat of "Grey's Anatomy" (3.21 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T8).

Next up was The CW (2.99 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #3) which claimed a rare bronze with the return of "The Vampire Diaries" (2.99 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T5) and the series premiere of "The Secret Circle" (2.99 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.3, #7). "Circle" posted the largest original audience in its time period since "Nikita" on 9/23/10.

Next up was FOX (3.79 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #4) with encores of "Bones" (3.70 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.9, #12) and another "Bones" (3.87 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T8).

And finally, NBC (2.70 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5) closed out the evening with its all-repeat lineup of "Community" (2.17 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.6, #14), "Up All Night" (2.59 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.0, #11), "The Office" (3.13 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T5), "Free Agents" (2.39 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T8) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (2.96 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.8, #13).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Wipeout (22.2% vs. 9/1/11).

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," 3.1/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.1/5 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.7/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.2/4.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.0/5; "Late Show," 0.6/3 with an encore; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.4/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "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) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/4 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 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (9/16/10):

CBS (7.94 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.2, #1) was the network to beat on Thursday thanks to its mix of "The Big Bang Theory" (7.41 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T4), a second "The Big Bang Theory" (8.22 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #3), a third "The Big Bang Theory" (8.27 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.6, #T1), a fourth "The Big Bang Theory" (8.36 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.6, #T1) and "The Mentalist" (7.70 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.7, #7).

ABC (5.75 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.8, #2) then claimed the silver with its combination of "Wipeout" (6.49 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T4), "Grey's Anatomy" (4.94 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.6, #8) and a second hour of "Grey's Anatomy" (5.82 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.9, #6).

Next up was NBC (4.29 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #3) with repeats of "The Office" (3.56 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.1, #12) and another "The Office" (3.48 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.3, #11) followed by the two-hour return of "The Apprentice" (4.67 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.5, #9).

The show's season premiere marked the franchise's lowest audience - premiere or otherwise - in over four years (data prior not readily available).

Meanwhile, The CW (3.20 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #4) offered up week two of "The Vampire Diaries" (3.04 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.4, #10) and "Nikita" (3.36 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #15).

And finally, FOX (2.45 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5) was out of the hunt with repeats of "Fringe" (2.35 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T13) and a second "Fringe" (2.54 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T13).

In late-night metered market ratings, ABC's "Nightline" (3.0/7) took top honors over NBC's "Leno" (2.7/7) and CBS's "Letterman" (2.5/6). Rounding out the night then were "Kimmel" (1.5/5) on ABC "Ferguson" (1.3/5) on CBS and "Fallon" (1.3/5) and "Daly" (0.7/3) on NBC.

Source: Nielsen Media Research