ABC's "Body of Proof" Wins Again at 10pm/"Cougar Town" Hits Season Highs in Viewers and Adults 18-34

Some early info on ABC's Tuesday, ahead of the regular press release.

With Last Man Standing, Cougar Town, DWTS Results Show and Body of Proof opposite all-original competition, ABC registered as the 2nd-most-watched TV network on Tuesday to CBS, outdrawing NBC by 3.0 million viewers and Fox by 4.1 million viewers.

At 8pm opposite CBS' top-rated NCIS, ABC's Last Man Standing ranked #2 in viewers, edging out the return of Fox's Glee and leading NBC's The Biggest Loser by 8%. In fact, ABC self-starter Last Man Standing finished as Tuesday's most-watched comedy overall, attracting 1.4 million more viewers than Fox's Glee-led New Girl at 9pm.

· Continuing to improve its time slot year over year, Last Man Standing boosted the half-hour for ABC by 1.3 million viewers and by 21% in Adults 18-49 over season-premiere programming on the year-ago night (Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution).

In the 8:30pm half-hour, despite facing the return of Glee to the time slot, ABC's Cougar Town surged 14% over its last telecast 3 weeks ago in Total Viewers, generating its most-watched telecast of the season. In addition the ABC comedy gained 9% in Adults 18-34, equaling a season-high rating.

During the 9 o'clock hour, ABC's DWTS Results Show emerged as the most-watched TV show for the 3rd week in a row, soaring above its NBC unscripted competition (Voice Results) by 4.1 million viewers. ABC's dancing results program stood as Tuesday's #2 TV show overall, behind only CBS' NCIS. In addition, the wide-appealing ABC unscripted series ranked #2 in the hour with Adults 18-49 and key Women (W18-49/W25-54). Actress and co-host of ABC's The View, Sherri Shepherd was the third celebrity to leave the competition this season.

In the 10pm hour, ABC's season finale of Body of Proof ranked #1 in Total Viewers, Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54, leading the time period on each measure for the 2nd week in a row. In addition, the ABC drama won its slot for the 3rd straight week with key Women (W18-49/W25-54).

· ABC's Body of Proof generated its 2nd-most-watched telecast this season. Additionally, the show tied its best Adult 18-34 number since the beginning of October - since 10/4/11.

Quick Take for Tuesday, April 10, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

ABC Qualifies as the 2nd-Most-Watched TV Network on Tuesday Night

Continuing to Greatly Improve its Slot Year to Year, ABC's "Last Man Standing" Finishes as Tuesday's Most-Watched Comedy Over Fox's "Glee"-Led "New Girl"

On its First Telecast in 3 Weeks, ABC's "Cougar Town" Returns with Season Highs

ABC's "DWTS Results Show" is the Top Draw in its Slot for the 3rd Week Running

In its Season Finale, "Body of Proof" is No. 1 in its Hour for the 2nd Week in Row With Total Viewers and Key Adults, Drawing its 2nd-Largest Audience this Season

Tuesday Night (8:00-11:00 p.m.)

With "Last Man Standing," "Cougar Town," "DWTS Results Show" and "Body of Proof" opposite all-original competition, ABC (9.7 million) registered as the 2nd-most-watched TV network on Tuesday to CBS, outdrawing NBC by 3.0 million viewers (6.7 million) and Fox by 4.1 million viewers (5.6 million).

"Last Man Standing" (8:00-8:30 p.m.)

At 8:00 p.m. opposite CBS' top-rated "NCIS," ABC's "Last Man Standing" ranked No. 2 in viewers, edging out the return of Fox's "Glee" (6.72 million vs. 6.71 million) and leading NBC's "The Biggest Loser" by 8% (6.2 million). In fact, ABC self-starter "Last Man Standing" finished as Tuesday's most-watched comedy overall, attracting 1.4 million more viewers than Fox's "Glee"-led "New Girl" at 9:00 p.m. (5.3 million).

· Continuing to improve its time slot year over year, "Last Man Standing" (6.7 million and 1.7/5) boosted the half-hour for ABC by 1.3 million viewers and by 21% in Adults 18-49 over season-premiere programming on the year-ago night ("Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution" on 4/12/11 = 5.4 million and 1.4/5).

"Cougar Town" (8:30-9:00 p.m.)

In the 8:30 p.m. half-hour, despite facing the return of "Glee" to the time slot, ABC's "Cougar Town" surged 14% over its last airing 3 weeks ago in Total Viewers (5.0 million vs. 4.4 million), generating its most-watched telecast of the season. In addition, the ABC comedy gained 9% in Adults 18-34 (1.2/4 vs. 1.1/4), equaling a season-high rating.

"DWTS Results Show" (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

During the 9 o'clock hour, ABC's "DWTS Results Show" (13.0 million) emerged as the most-watched TV show for the 3rd week in a row, soaring above its NBC unscripted competition ("Voice Results" = 8.9 million) by 4.1 million viewers. ABC's dancing results program stood as Tuesday's No. 2 TV show overall, behind only CBS' "NCIS." In addition, the wide-appealing ABC unscripted series ranked No. 2 in the hour with Adults 18-49 (2.3/6-tie) and key Women (W18-49/W25-54). Actress and co-host of ABC's "The View," Sherri Shepherd, was the third celebrity to leave the competition this season.

"Body of Proof" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

In the 10:00 p.m. hour, ABC's season finale of "Body of Proof" ranked No. 1 in Total Viewers (10.2 million), Adults 18-49 (1.9/5) and Adults 25-54 (2.8/7), leading the time period on each measure for the 2nd week in a row. In addition, the ABC drama won its slot for the 3rd straight week with key Women (W18-49/W25-54).

· ABC's "Body of Proof" generated its 2nd-most-watched telecast this season. Additionally, the show tied its best Adult 18-34 number since the beginning of October - since 10/4/11.

A note about increasing DVR penetration and year-to-year rating comparisons: Year-to-year rating comparisons based on the Live + Same Day data stream are distorted by the level of DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample, which has jumped up to 43% currently, from 40% at the same point in 2011. More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which may not be reflected in the overnight next day numbers. The only truly valid year-to-year comparison would be one based on the Live + 7 Day metric, once those stats are released by Nielsen.

Source: The Nielsen Company (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings), 04/10/12.