nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, may 8, 2012)

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

NBC (9.20 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.3, #1) was the top demo draw on Tuesday thanks to the two-hour season finale of "The Voice" (11.60 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.3, #1). Leading off the night was a special early edition of "Fashion Star" (4.41 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.3, #12) - its lowest rating to date.

The silver then went to CBS (14.35 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.7, #2) with new episodes of "NCIS" (17.82 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.0, #T2) - its season low - and "NCIS: Los Angeles" (14.50 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #T2) plus the season finale of "Unforgettable" (10.73 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.0, #7).

Next up was FOX (5.49 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.4, #3) with its mix of "Glee" (6.49 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.6, #5), the season finale of "New Girl" (5.53 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.8, #4) and a repeat of "New Girl" (3.44 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.6, #9).

Meanwhile, ABC (8.35 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.8, #4) offered up its season finale of "Last Man Standing" (6.60 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.7, #8) - tied for its series low for results shows - followed by new episodes of "Cougar Town" (4.72 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T10), "Dancing With the Stars" (13.31 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #6) and "Private Practice" (6.09 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T10) - its series low.

And finally, originals of "90210" (1.32 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.6, #13) and "The L.A. Complex" (0.68 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.3, #14) on The CW (1.00 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "90210" delivered a 0.9 rating while "Complex" posted a 0.4 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+38.71% - The Voice
+33.33% - New Girl
+21.43% - Last Man Standing
+15.38% - Cougar Town
+11.11% - Unforgettable
8.33% - Glee
0.00% - NCIS
0.00% - NCIS: Los Angeles
0.00% - Dancing With the Stars
0.00% - 90210
0.00% - The L.A. Complex
-13.33% - Fashion Star
-28.57% - Private Practice

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+27.27% - New Girl (vs. Raising Hope)
+19.44% - The Voice (vs. The Biggest Loser/The Voice)
+7.14% - NCIS: Los Angeles
0.00% - Unforgettable (vs. The Good Wife)
0.00% - 90210 (vs. One Tree Hill)
-14.29% - NCIS
-15.00% - Last Man Standing (vs. Dancing With the Stars Recap)
-25.00% - Cougar Town (vs. Dancing With the Stars Recap)
-27.78% - Glee
-28.13% - Dancing With the Stars
-28.57% - Private Practice (vs. Body of Proof)
-40.00% - The L.A. Complex (vs. Hellcats)
-50.00% - Fashion Star (vs. The Biggest Loser)

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," 3.0/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.6/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.3/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.9/6.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.0/5; "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" (1.4/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49) tied "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.0/4 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 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (5/10/11):

NBC (7.97 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.3, #1) took home the demo crown on Tuesday thanks to new episodes of "The Biggest Loser" (6.80 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.6, #6) and "The Voice" (10.29 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 4.6, #1).

CBS (14.48 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.8, #2) then had to settle once again for second place with its mix of "NCIS" (17.10 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.5, #3), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (14.75 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.8, #5) - both season lows - and "The Good Wife" (11.59 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T9).

Next up was FOX (6.72 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.7, #3) with fresh installments of "Glee" (9.09 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.6, #2), "Raising Hope" (5.45 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.2, #7) and the departing "Traffic Light" (3.26 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.4, #11). Both comedies posted their best numbers since 3/15/11.

Meanwhile, ABC (12.82 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #4) offered up another "Dancing With the Stars Recap" (11.05 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T9) followed by new episodes of "Dancing With the Stars" (17.11 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.2, #4) and "Body of Proof" (10.30 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.1, #8).

And finally, new episodes of "One Tree Hill" (1.38 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.6, #12) and "Hellcats" (1.22 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.5, #13) on The CW (1.30 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Hellcats (25.00%), Traffic Light (16.70%), Raising Hope (15.80%), Dancing With the Stars (10.30%), Body of Proof (5.00%), Glee (0.00%), NCIS (0.00%), The Biggest Loser (0.00%), One Tree Hill (0.00%), NCIS: Los Angeles (-3.40%), The Good Wife (-16.70%), The Voice (-17.90%).

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," 3.3/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.9/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.6/9; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.8/6.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.2/5; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 1.2/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/5 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" (0.8/5 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.0/4 with an encore in metered-market households and a 0.5/4 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research