nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, march 27, 2012)

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

New episodes of "NCIS" (18.24 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.4, #1), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (14.69 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.9, #3) and "Unforgettable" (10.44 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.0, #6) put CBS (14.46 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.8, #1) in front on Tuesday.

ABC (11.91 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.3, #2) then claimed the silver with its recap special "Dancing With the Stars: The Story So Far" (10.42 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T7) followed by new episodes of "Dancing With the Stars" (15.32 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #2) and "Body of Proof" (9.99 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.1, #5).

Next up was NBC (5.08 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.8, #3) with fresh installments of "The Biggest Loser 13" (5.62 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T7) - to its series low for regular telecasts - and "Fashion Star" (4.00 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T9).

Meanwhile, FOX (3.65 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.7, #4) offered up its mix of a new "Raising Hope" (3.77 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T9) - another season low, a repeat of "Raising Hope" (3.10 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.3, #12) and new episodes of "New Girl" (4.90 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.5, #4) - likewise a season low - and "Breaking In" (2.82 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.4, #11).

And finally, originals of "90210" (1.36 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.7, #13) and "Ringer" (1.10 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.5, #14) rounded out the night for The CW (1.23 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "90210" delivered a 1.1 rating while "Ringer" posted a 0.8 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+50.00% - Body of Proof (vs. 3/13/12)
+7.69% - Breaking In
+3.57% - NCIS: Los Angeles
+3.03% - NCIS
0.00% - 90210
0.00% - Ringer
-3.85% - New Girl
-4.76% - Unforgettable
-6.25% - Raising Hope
-13.64% - The Biggest Loser 13
-16.67% - Fashion Star

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+133.33% - 90210 (vs. One Tree Hill (Repeat))
+92.31% - New Girl (vs. Raising Hope (Repeat))
+66.67% - Ringer (vs. Hellcats (Repeat))
+27.27% - Breaking In (vs. Traffic Light)
+7.14% - Raising Hope (vs. Glee (Repeat))
+5.26% - Unforgettable (vs. The Good Wife)
-10.53% - NCIS
-17.14% - NCIS: Los Angeles
-21.05% - Fashion Star (vs. Parenthood)
-26.92% - The Biggest Loser 13
-28.57% - Dancing With the Stars
-29.63% - Dancing With the Stars: The Story So Far
-30.00% - Body of Proof

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," 2.7/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.5/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.8/9; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.1/6.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.7/4; "Late Show," 0.6/3; "Nightline," 1.1/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.7/4.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/4 in metered-market household) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/4 with an encore). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-4) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2 with an encore).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 in metered-market households and a 0.3/3 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 (3/29/11):

ABC (15.11 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.3, #1) was back in the ratings hunt on Tuesday thanks to the special "Dancing With the Stars: The Story So Far" (12.67 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.7, #6) followed by a new "Dancing With the Stars" (18.81 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.2, #1) and the premiere of "Body of Proof" (13.85 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.0, #4).

CBS (14.48 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.1, #2) then was bumped to second place with new episodes of "NCIS" (18.26 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.8, #2), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (15.21 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.5, #3) and "The Good Wife" (9.99 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T7), the latter of which hit a series low.

Next up was NBC (6.34 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #3) with new episodes of "The Biggest Loser" (7.13 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.6, #5) and "Parenthood" (4.77 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T7).

Meanwhile, FOX (3.75 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #4) offered up repeats of "Glee" (4.41 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.4, #9) and "Raising Hope" (3.60 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.3, #10) followed by a new "Traffic Light" (2.60 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.1, #11).

And finally, repeats of "One Tree Hill" (0.82 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T12) and "Hellcats" (0.70 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T12) on The CW (0.76 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): NCIS: Los Angeles (9.40%), Parenthood (0.00% vs. 3/1/11), Traffic Light (0.00%), NCIS (0.00%), The Good Wife (-9.50%), The Biggest Loser (-13.30%).

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," 2.6/6; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.8/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.9/9; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.1/6.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.0/4; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 1.4/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.8/4.

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" (1.4/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.5/3).

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

Source: Nielsen Media Research