Primetime Preliminary Fast National Nielsen Data
(includes all DVR playback through 3:00 am)

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (5/21/15):

CBS (5.732 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.1, #1) was the network to beat on Thursday despite an all-repeat lineup of "The Big Bang Theory" (8.003 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.5, #1), "The Odd Couple" (6.397 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #2), "Mom" (5.899 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T3), "Mike & Molly" (5.084 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T6) and "Elementary" (4.505 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T10).

FOX (3.821 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2) then was a close second with an encore of "Wayward Pines" (3.059 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T8) followed by a new "Wayward Pines" (4.582 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T3).

Next up was ABC (3.884 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #3) with new episodes of "500 Questions" (4.719 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T6), another "500 Questions" (4.457 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.1, #5) and an encore of "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (2.475 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T10).

Meanwhile, NBC (3.194 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4) served up its coverage of "Red Nose Day" (3.194 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T8).

And finally, encores of "iZombie" (0.805 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T12) and "The Vampire Diaries" (0.572 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T12) on The CW (0.688 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.2, #5) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), the former delivered a 0.3 rating at 8:00/7:00c and the latter a 0.4 rating at 9:00/8:00c.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+20.00% - Wayward Pines

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+66.67% - 500 Questions - 8:00 (vs. The Bachelorette (Repeat))
+57.14% - 500 Questions - 9:00 (vs. The Bachelorette/Modern Family (Repeats))
+33.33% - Wayward Pines (vs. Gang Related)
-46.67% - Red Nose Day (vs. Various)

In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release):

TBA

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (5/22/14):

NBC (4.890 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #1) kicked off the summer on top with a new "Hollywood Game Night" (3.896 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T6) and the two-hour season premiere of "Last Comic Standing" (5.387 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.7, #2).

CBS (5.762 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.3, #2) then claimed the silver with its mix of "The Big Bang Theory" (8.944 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.2, #1), "The Millers" (6.035 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T3), "Two and a Half Men" (5.728 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #5), "Bad Teacher" (4.449 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T6) and "Elementary" (4.708 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T8).

Next up was FOX (3.600 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #3) with a new "Hell's Kitchen" (4.214 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T3) followed by the debut of "Gang Related" (2.987 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T8).

Meanwhile, ABC (3.050 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) served up encores of "The Bachelorette" (2.687 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.6, #12) and "Modern Family" (2.793 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T10) alongside a new "Black Box" (3.722 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T10).

And finally, "Labyrinth, Part 1" (1.334 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.4, #13) closed out the evening on The CW (1.334 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), the film posted a 0.3 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - Hollywood Game Night
-11.76% - Hell's Kitchen
-21.43% - Bad Teacher
-27.27% - Black Box

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+100.00% - Last Comic Standing (vs. Various)
+60.00% - Labyrinth, Part 1 (vs. The Vampire Diaries (Repeat)/Beauty and the Beast (Repeat))
+57.14% - Hollywood Game Night (vs. Save Me)
-8.33% - Bad Teacher (vs. Person of Interest (Repeat))
-28.57% - Hell's Kitchen
-30.77% - Gang Related (vs. Does Someone Have to Go?)
-33.33% - Black Box (vs. Rookie Blue)

In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release):

TBA

Source: Nielsen Media Research