nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for monday, april 30, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

CBS (10.00 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.1, #1) moved into the top spot on Monday thanks to new episodes of "How I Met Your Mother" (7.89 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.2, #T4), "2 Broke Girls" (9.14 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.5, #T2), "Two and a Half Men" (11.25 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.7, #1), "Mike & Molly" (10.23 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.2, #T4) and "Hawaii Five-0" (10.76 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.5, #7) - its season low.

NBC (8.07 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.9, #2) then had to settle for second place with new episodes of "The Voice" (9.40 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.5, #T2) - its new series low for performance shows - and "Smash" (5.40 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.8, #11) - its series low.

Next up was ABC (14.35 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.6, #3) with originals from "Dancing With the Stars" (15.84 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.7, #6) - its series low for performance shows - and "Castle" (11.38 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #8).

Meanwhile, FOX (6.79 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.0, #4) offered up fresh installments of "Bones" (7.01 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.9, #10) and "House" (6.57 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.1, #9).

And finally, new episodes of "Gossip Girl" (1.05 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T12) and "Hart of Dixie" (1.31 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T12) on The CW (1.18 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Gossip" delivered a 1.3 rating while "Dixie" posted a 1.1 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+20.00% - Hart of Dixie
+20.00% - Gossip Girl
+9.09% - Castle (vs. 4/16/12)
+6.67% - How I Met Your Mother (vs. 4/16/12)
+6.06% - 2 Broke Girls (vs. 4/16/12)
+3.23% - Mike & Molly (vs. 4/16/12)
0.00% - Two and a Half Men (vs. 4/16/12)
-3.85% - Hawaii Five-0 (vs. 4/9/12)
-5.41% - The Voice
-8.70% - House
-10.00% - Dancing With the Stars
-13.64% - Bones
-14.29% - Smash

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+159.26% - The Voice (vs. Chuck/The Event)
+68.18% - Two and a Half Men (vs. Two and a Half Men (Repeat))
+59.09% - 2 Broke Girls (vs. Mad Love)
+39.13% - Mike & Molly
+31.25% - House (vs. The Chicago Code)
+28.57% - Smash (vs. Law & Order: LA)
+18.52% - How I Met Your Mother
+4.17% - Hawaii Five-0
-14.29% - Hart of Dixie (vs. Gossip Girl)
-14.29% - Gossip Girl (vs. 90210)
-17.24% - Castle
-34.48% - Bones (vs. House)
-38.64% - Dancing With the Stars

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," 2.9/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.6/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.8/9; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.0/6.

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," 0.6/3.

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" (1.3/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49 with an encore) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (5/2/11):

ABC (18.00 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.9, #1) was the network to beat on Monday with a two-hour "Dancing With the Stars" (20.88 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.4, #1) and a new "Castle" (12.23 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #T2).

CBS (7.82 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #2) then had to settle for second place with fresh installments of "How I Met Your Mother" (6.73 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.7, #4) and "Mad Love" (5.75 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T7) followed by a repeat of "Two and a Half Men" (7.63 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T7) and new episodes of "Mike & Molly" (8.06 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.3, #6) and "Hawaii Five-0" (9.36 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #5), both of which hit series lows.

Next up was FOX (7.01 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3) with new episodes of "House" (8.48 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.9, #T2) and "The Chicago Code" (5.54 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.6, #9).

Over on NBC (4.32 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #4), the Peacock served up new episodes of "Chuck" (4.12 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T10), "The Event" (4.02 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.3, #12) and "Law & Order: LA" (4.81 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T10).

And finally, new episodes of "90210" (1.50 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T13) and "Gossip Girl" (1.28 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T13) rounded out the night on The CW (1.39 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Mad Love (10.00%), How I Met Your Mother (8.00% vs. 4/18/11), Law & Order: LA (7.70%), Chuck (7.70% vs. 4/18/11), The Event (0.00%), Dancing With the Stars (-2.20%), Castle (-6.50% vs. 4/11/11), Hawaii Five-0 (-7.70% vs. 4/18/11), Mike & Molly (-8.00% vs. 4/18/11), House (-9.40% vs. 4/18/11), The Chicago Code (-15.80% vs. 4/18/11), 90210 (-22.20%), Gossip Girl (-22.20%).

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," 2.9/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 3.1/8; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 4.5/10; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.9/6 (delayed by additional "Nightline" coverage).

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/3; "Late Show," 1.0/4; "Nightline," 1.3/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/4 (delayed by additional "Nightline" coverage).

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/5 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" (0.5/3 in 18-49) trailed "Late Late Show" (0.6/3).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 with an encore 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