nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for friday, december 23, 2011)

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

ABC (4.17 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #1) slipped into the top spot on Friday with its mix of "Shrek the Halls" (5.09 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #1), "Phineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation" (3.71 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T2), "Prep & Landing 2: Naughty vs. Nice" (3.49 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T2), "Kung Fu Panda Holiday Special" (3.31 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T5) and "20/20" (4.70 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T5).

CBS (6.71 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2) then was the most-watched network with its all-repeat lineup of "A Gifted Man" (5.61 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T9), "CSI: NY" (7.30 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T5) and "Blue Bloods" (7.22 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T2).

Next up was NBC (3.15 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #3) with a new "Chuck" (3.41 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T5) followed by repeats of "Grimm" (2.90 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T9) and "Dateline NBC" (3.15 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T9).

Meanwhile, FOX (1.91 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) offered up repeats of "Kitchen Nightmares" (2.44 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T9) and "Fringe" (1.39 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T13).

And finally, rebroadcasts of "Olive, the Other Reindeer" (1.27 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.4, #15) and "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" (1.60 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T13) on The CW (1.44 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) capped the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):

+11.11% - 20/20
+11.11% - Chuck

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
-9.09% - 20/20 (vs. Santa Clause 2 (Repeat))
-28.57% - Chuck (vs. It's a Wonderful Life (Repeat))

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," 3.0/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.6/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.9/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/4 with an encore.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/3; "Late Show," 0.6/3; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3 with an encore.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.8/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.3/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.7/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.1/4 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

[NOTE: Today's numbers are courtesy of TVMediaInsights.com due to delays from our usual sources.]

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (12/24/10):

NBC (4.70 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #1) claimed the top spot on Christmas Eve with its presentation of "It's a Wonderful Life" (4.70 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #1).

ABC (3.11 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T2) and CBS (5.28 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T2) then shared the silver as the latter offered up second runs of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (4.97 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T3), "CSI: NY" (5.01 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5) and "Blue Bloods" (5.87 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T3).

Next up was the Alphabet with its mix of "Disney Prep & Landing" (2.47 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T6), "Phineas & Ferb Christmas Vacation" (2.05 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #8) and "Santa Clause 2" (3.53 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2).

Meanwhile, FOX (2.14 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) offered up the feature "Are We Done Yet?" (2.14 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T6).

And finally, repeats of "Smallville" (1.02 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T9) and "Supernatural" (1.05 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T9) on The CW (1.03 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) closed out the evening.

Most regular late-night programming was pre-empted due to the Christmas Eve holiday.

Source: Nielsen Media Research