nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, november 19, 2011)

Here are the highlights of the 10 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

ABC (6.80 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.4, #1) cruised to the top spot with its coverage of "Saturday Night College Football" (6.80 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.4, #1).

A silver medal then went to CBS (4.69 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2) with its mix of "The Big Bang Theory" (4.39 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4), "2 Broke Girls" (4.14 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T2), "The Mentalist" (4.41 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #7) and "48 Hours Mystery" (5.38 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T5).

Next up was FOX (2.86 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #3) with a full hour of "Cops" (3.86 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T2) followed by a repeat of "Terra Nova" (1.85 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T8).

And finally, repeats of "Harry's Law" (2.80 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.4, #10), "Prime Suspect" (3.38 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T8) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.18 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T5) on NBC (3.45 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) rounded out the night.

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

"Saturday Night Live," hosted by Jason Segel with musical guest Florence + The Machine, averaged a 4.6/11 in metered-market households. "SNL" is the #1 non-sports telecast on the night, topping all of Saturday's primetime entertainment programming on CBS, NBC and Fox in metered-market households.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 2.8 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49, tying the October 12 telecast (with host Charlie Day and musical guest Maroon 5) for the top "SNL" rating in the Local People Meters since the "SNL" season finale on May 21, 2011 (with host Justin Timberlake and musical guest Lady Gaga).

"SNL" is the #1 telecast of the night in the Local People Meters, topping all primetime programming on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox. In the Local People Meters, "SNL" is up 4 percent versus its 2.7 on the same night last year.

Here are the highlights of the nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (11/20/10):

FOX (5.16 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.8, #1) held onto the adults 18-49 crown on Saturday thanks to its usual mix of "Cops" (5.22 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.8, #1) and "America's Most Wanted" (5.09 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.7, #2).

ABC (5.38 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #2) then claimed the silver with its weekly "Saturday Night College Football" (5.38 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #3) coverage.

Next up was CBS (6.00 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.2, #3) with repeats of "NCIS: Los Angeles" (5.41 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #6) and "Criminal Minds" (5.77 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.2, #5) followed by a new "48 Hours Mystery" (6.81 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.4, #4).

And finally, coverage of "Army vs. Notre Dame at Yankee Stadium" (2.91 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.7, #7) on NBC (2.91 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) rounded out the evening.

And in late-night, a new "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 4.7 household rating, 12 share in the metered markets.

Source: Nielsen Media Research