nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, may 23, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

The two-hour season finale of "American Idol" (20.71 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.1, #1) not surprisingly put FOX (20.71 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.1, #1) on top for the final night of the 2011-12 season. Said broadcast however was down 31.46% from last year's finale among adults 18-49.

ABC (7.30 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.6, #2) then claimed a distant second place with the season finale of "The Middle" (6.51 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T5), a repeat of "Modern Family" (6.03 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T5) and the respective finales of "Modern Family" (9.99 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.0, #2), "Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23" (5.74 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.5, #3) and "Revenge" (7.76 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #4).

Next up was CBS (5.87 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #3) with its all-repeat lineup of "The Big Bang Theory" (5.59 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T10), "Two and a Half Men" (4.41 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.2, #13), "Criminal Minds" (6.38 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T8) and a second "Criminal Minds" (6.25 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T8).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.38 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #4) offered up the season finale of "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" (5.47 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T10), repeats of "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" (5.33 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T10) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.77 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.9, #14) plus the season finale of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (6.98 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.9, #7).

And finally, a repeat of "America's Next Top Model" (0.86 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T15) and a new "America's Next Top Model" (0.92 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T15) on The CW (0.89 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) closed out the evening. Women 18-34 numbers will be available later today.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+45.24% - American Idol (vs. 5/17/12)
+25.00% - Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23
+20.00% - Revenge
+11.76% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
+7.14% - Betty White's Off Their Rockers
+5.26% - The Middle
+2.56% - Modern Family
-20.00% - America's Next Top Model

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+50.00% - Betty White's Off Their Rockers (vs. Minute to Win It (Repeat))
+35.71% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (vs. Law & Order: Los Angeles)
+29.73% - Revenge (vs. Cougar Town/Happy Endings (10:30))
+25.00% - Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 (vs. Cougar Town)
0.00% - America's Next Top Model (vs. America's Next Top Model (Repeat))
-2.44% - Modern Family
-9.09% - The Middle
-31.46% - American Idol

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," 2.4/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.2/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/4; "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" (1.4/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.3/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49) topped "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 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (5/25/11):

FOX (28.16 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 8.9, #1) closed the 2010-11 season on top with the season finale of "American Idol" (28.16 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 8.9, #1). Compared with last year's finale, "Idol" was up 9% in the demo and up +17% in total viewers (versus final numbers).

ABC (6.33 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #2) then won the battle for the leftovers with the season finale of "The Middle" (7.43 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3), a repeat of "Modern Family" (6.05 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.9, #6) and the respective season enders to "Modern Family" (10.22 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.1, #2), "Cougar Town" (5.10 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T4) and "Happy Endings" (4.06 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T7).

Next up was CBS (6.66 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.7, #3) with repeats of "The Big Bang Theory" (5.81 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.5, #10), another "The Big Bang Theory" (6.20 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T7) and "Criminal Minds" (6.45 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.6, #9) alongside the de facto series finale of "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" (7.52 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T4).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.20 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4) offered up its mix of "Minute to Win It" (3.44 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.0, #13), another "Minute to Win It" (3.59 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.1, #12) and a special "Law & Order: Los Angeles" (5.58 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.4, #11).

And finally, repeats of "America's Next Top Model" (1.08 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T14) and another "America's Next Top Model" (1.02 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T14) on The CW (1.05 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): American Idol (43.50% vs. 5/19/11), Happy Endings (30.80%), Modern Family (2.50%), Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (0.00%), Cougar Town (0.00%), Law & Order: Los Angeles (0.00% vs. 5/23/11), Minute to Win It (0.00%), The Middle (-8.30%).

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," 3.0/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.7/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.0/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.0/4; "Late Show," 0.6/3; "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 households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.4/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.7/4 in 18-49) 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.

Source: Nielsen Media Research