nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, march 20, 2012)

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

CBS (15.33 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.7, #1) was the network to beat on Tuesday with the return of new episodes of "NCIS" (18.61 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.3, #1) - its season low, "NCIS: Los Angeles" (16.06 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #2) - also its season low - and "Unforgettable" (11.32 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.1, #5).

NBC (5.99 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.1, #2) then claimed the silver with a new "The Biggest Loser 13" (6.55 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.2, #4) and week two of "Fashion Star" (4.86 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.8, #7).

Next up was FOX (3.71 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.7, #3) with its original mix of "Raising Hope" (3.76 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T8) - a season low, "I Hate My Teenage Daughter" (2.98 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.2, #12) - a series low, "New Girl" (5.12 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.6, #3) - also a series low - and "Breaking In" (2.96 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.3, #11) - also a season low.

Meanwhile, ABC (4.82 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #4) offered up new episodes of "Last Man Standing" (7.04 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.9, #6) - a series low - and "Cougar Town" (4.61 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T8) followed by the season finale of "The River" (3.98 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.4, #10) and a repeat of "Body of Proof" (4.65 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.9, #13).

And finally, new episodes of "90210" (1.27 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.7, #14) and "Ringer" (1.16 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.5, #15) rounded out the night for The CW (1.21 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "90210" delivered a 0.9 rating while "Ringer" posted a 0.7 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+25.00% - Ringer
+16.67% - 90210
+14.29% - Cougar Town
+12.50% - Fashion Star
+10.53% - Unforgettable (vs. 2/28/12)
+10.00% - The Biggest Loser 13
+7.69% - The River
-2.94% - NCIS (vs. 2/28/12)
-3.70% - New Girl
-7.69% - I Hate My Teenage Daughter
-9.52% - Last Man Standing (vs. 2/28/12)
-9.68% - NCIS: Los Angeles (vs. 2/28/12)
-11.11% - Raising Hope
-13.33% - Breaking In

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+133.33% - 90210 (vs. One Tree Hill (Repeat))
+73.33% - New Girl (vs. Raising Hope (Repeat))
+66.67% - Ringer (vs. Hellcats (Repeat))
+63.64% - Fashion Star (vs. Parenthood (Repeat))
+26.67% - Last Man Standing (vs. No Ordinary Family)
+18.18% - Breaking In (vs. Traffic Light)
+6.67% - Cougar Town (vs. No Ordinary Family)
0.00% - Unforgettable (vs. The Good Wife)
-12.50% - NCIS: Los Angeles
-13.16% - NCIS
-15.79% - Raising Hope (vs. Glee (Repeat))
-22.22% - The River (vs. Best in Film: The Greatest Movies of Our Times)
-26.67% - The Biggest Loser 13
-36.84% - I Hate My Teenage Daughter (vs. Glee (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," 2.8/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.6/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.9/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.4/4.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.6/3; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/5 in metered-market household) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-4) 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 and a 0.3/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (3/22/11):

CBS (15.73 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.0, #1) was the network to beat on Tuesday with new episodes of "NCIS" (19.11 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.8, #1), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (16.46 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #2) and "The Good Wife" (11.62 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.1, #4).

NBC (6.48 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #2) then took home the silver with a new "The Biggest Loser" (8.19 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.0, #3) and a repeat of "Parenthood" (3.07 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T9).

Next up was ABC (6.50 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.7, #3) with the return of "No Ordinary Family" (5.30 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T7) followed by the two-hour special "Best in Film: The Greatest Movies of Our Times" (7.10 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.8, #6).

Meanwhile, FOX (4.37 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) served up repeats of "Glee" (5.25 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.9, #5) and "Raising Hope" (4.20 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T7) alongside a fresh "Traffic Light" (2.80 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T9).

And finally, repeats of "One Tree Hill" (0.82 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T11) and "Hellcats" (0.72 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T11) on The CW (0.77 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): No Ordinary Family (25.00% vs. 3/1/11), The Biggest Loser (11.10%), NCIS (0.00% vs. 3/1/11), NCIS: Los Angeles (0.00% vs. 3/1/11), The Good Wife (-4.50% vs. 3/1/11), Traffic Light (-31.30%).

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," 2.5/6; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 3.0/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.4/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.4/4.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 1.1/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/4 in metered-market households) tied CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.3/5 with an encore). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3 with an encore).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 in metered-market households and a 0.3/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research