nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, september 22, 2010)

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

CBS (12.88 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.6, #1) was the network to beat on Wednesday thanks to a new "Survivor: Nicaragua" (12.47 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.0, #T2), the return of "Criminal Minds" (14.08 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.0, #T2) and the debut of "The Defenders" (12.09 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.9, #8).

That 2.9 adults 18-49 rating for "Defenders" is down from "CSI: NY's" opener a year ago (-27.5%), but best in the Wednesday, 10:00/9:00c slot since 3/3/10.

Second place then went to upstart FOX (6.57 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.9, #2) with the season premiere of "Hell's Kitchen" (5.95 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.6, #T9) and a second episode of "Hell's Kitchen" (7.19 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 3.2, #6).

Next up was NBC (9.54 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #T3) with the series premiere of "Undercovers" (8.57 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.1, #12) followed by the season opener to "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (9.68 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.0, #7) and a second "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (10.36 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.5, #4).

"Undercovers's" 2.1 adults 18-49 rating came in just under "Mercy's" launch in said time period last season (-8.7%).

Sharing the bronze was ABC (7.92 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.8, #T3) with the respective premieres of "The Middle" (8.81 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.6, #T9), "Better With You" (7.97 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.5, #11), "Modern Family" (12.61 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 5.0, #1), "Cougar Town" (8.34 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 3.3, #5) and "The Whole Truth" (4.91 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.6, #13).

Year-to-year, "Better With You" was even with "The Middle's" launch on 9/30/09 while "Whole Truth's" 1.6 adults 18-49 rating was well shy of "Eastwick's" debut (-46.7%).

And finally, week three of "America's Next Top Model" (2.82 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.3, #14) and "Hellcats" (2.32 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.0, #15) on The CW (2.57 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.1, #5) rounded out the evening.

In late-night metered market ratings, NBC's "Leno" (3.3/9) took top honors over ABC's "Nightline" (2.7/7) and CBS's "Letterman" (3.2/8). Rounding out the night then were "Kimmel" (1.4/4) on ABC "Ferguson" (1.6/6) on CBS and "Fallon" (1.6/6) and "Daly" (1.0/4) on NBC.

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (9/23/09):

CBS (12.50 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.5, #T1) and ABC (11.86 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.5, #T1) split top honors on Wednesday as the former offered up the season premieres of "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (7.68 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T11), "Gary Unmarried" (7.37 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.4, #10), "Criminal Minds" (15.42 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.2, #3) and "CSI: NY" (14.57 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.0, #4).

The Alphabet then offered up night three of "Dancing With the Stars" (14.96 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #5) followed by the premieres of "Modern Family" (12.74 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.3, #T1), "Cougar Town" (11.44 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 4.3, #T1) and "Eastwick" (8.53 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.0, #T6).

Next up was FOX (6.11 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.8, #3) with fresh installments of "So You Think You Can Dance" (5.60 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T8) and "Glee" (6.62 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 3.0, #T6).

Meanwhile, NBC (7.68 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #4) offered up the premieres of "Mercy" (8.25 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T11) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (8.36 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T8) as well as new "The Jay Leno Show" (6.43 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.0, #13).

And finally, new episodes of "America's Next Top Model" (2.84 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.3, #14) and "The Beautiful Life" (1.09 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.5, #15) on The CW (1.97 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5) rounded out the night.

Source: Nielsen Media Research