nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, january 17, 2012)

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

FOX (6.75 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.9, #1) was the network to beat among adults 18-49 thanks to the return of "Glee" (7.47 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.0, #2), "New Girl" (6.92 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.4, #1) and "Raising Hope" (5.13 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T4).

NBC (6.06 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.1, #2) then snagged the silver with fresh installments of "The Biggest Loser 13" (6.63 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T4) and "Parenthood" (4.92 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T9).

Next up was ABC (7.10 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.0, #3) with a new "Last Man Standing" (8.57 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.6, #3), a repeat of "Last Man Standing" (6.54 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.0, #8) and new episodes of "Celebrity Wife Swap" (5.88 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.1, #7) and "Body of Proof" (7.87 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #11).

Meanwhile, CBS (9.89 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.8, #4) offered up repeats of "NCIS" (13.10 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.2, #6), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (9.29 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T9) and "Unforgettable" (7.28 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.5, #12).

And finally, the return of "90210" (1.31 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.6, #13) and the premiere of "Remodeled" (0.71 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.3, #14) on The CW (1.01 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) closed out the night. The latter numbers marked The CW's worst original performance in the time period this season. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "90210" delivered a 0.7 rating while "Remodeled" posted a 0.3 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+18.18% - Last Man Standing
+3.45% - Glee (vs. 12/13/11)
+3.03% - New Girl (vs. 12/13/11)
0.00% - Raising Hope (vs. 12/13/11)
0.00% - Celebrity Wife Swap
0.00% - Body of Proof
-4.17% - The Biggest Loser 13
-5.56% - Parenthood
-25.00% - 90210 (vs. 12/6/11)

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+114.29% - Glee (vs. Glee (Repeat))
+78.95% - New Girl (vs. Million Dollar Money Drop)
+44.44% - Last Man Standing (vs. No Ordinary Family)
+23.08% - Body of Proof (vs. 20/20)
+21.05% - Raising Hope (vs. Million Dollar Money Drop)
+5.00% - Celebrity Wife Swap (vs. V)
-17.86% - The Biggest Loser 13
-19.05% - Parenthood
-25.00% - 90210 (vs. Life Unexpected)
-62.50% - Remodeled (vs. Life Unexpected)

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," 2.8/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.5/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.5/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.6/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/4; "Late Show," 0.6/3; "Nightline," 1.1/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/5 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" (0.5/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 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 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/18/11):

CBS (16.53 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.2, #1) was the top dog on Tuesday with its original combination of "NCIS" (20.97 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.1, #1), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (17.28 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.3, #2) and "The Good Wife" (11.34 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T4).

NBC (7.34 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.6, #2) then claimed the silver with fresh installments of "The Biggest Loser" (8.19 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.8, #3) and "Parenthood" (5.63 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T4).

Next up was ABC (5.84 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T3) and its lineup of "No Ordinary Family" (5.71 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.8, #8), "V" (5.65 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.0, #6) and a special "20/20" (6.18 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.3, #10).

Meanwhile, FOX (4.84 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T3) offered up a repeat of "Glee" (4.41 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.4, #9) and the penultimate week of "Million Dollar Money Drop" (5.27 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.9, #7).

And finally, a new "Life Unexpected" (1.81 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T11) led into the series finale of "Life Unexpected" (1.69 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T11) on The CW (1.75 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): No Ordinary Family (20.00%), Million Dollar Money Drop (5.60%), V (5.30%), Parenthood (-4.50%), The Good Wife (-8.70%), NCIS (-8.90%), NCIS: Los Angeles (-10.80%), Life Unexpected (-11.10% vs. 12/7/10), The Biggest Loser (-12.50%).

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," 2.8/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 3.3/8; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.2/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.0/4; "Late Show," 0.9/4; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.2/4 in metered-market households) trailed CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.5/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/2).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.7/3 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research