nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, september 28, 2010)

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

FOX (9.68 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.2, #1) stayed in front on Tuesday thanks to week two of "Glee" (13.26 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 5.8, #1), "Raising Hope" (7.63 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.2, #5) and "Running Wilde" (4.74 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.1, #10).

Second place then went to CBS (16.03 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.4, #2) with new episodes of "NCIS" (18.74 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.0, #2), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (16.45 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.7, #T3) and the season premiere of "The Good Wife" (12.89 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.5, #8).

Next up was ABC (12.27 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #3) with the premiere of "No Ordinary Family" (10.54 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.1, #6) followed by new episodes of "Dancing With the Stars" (17.09 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.7, #T3) and "Detroit 187" (9.16 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.2, #9).

Meanwhile, NBC (6.37 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.5, #4) was stuck in fourth place with new episodes of "The Biggest Loser" (7.14 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.6, #7) and "Parenthood" (4.85 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.0, #11).

And finally, new episodes of "One Tree Hill" (1.82 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.9, #12) and "Life Unexpected" (1.57 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.8, #13) on The CW (1.70 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Life Unexpected (14.30%), NCIS: Los Angeles (8.80%), Glee (5.50%), Raising Hope (3.20%), NCIS (2.60%), One Tree Hill (0.00%), The Biggest Loser (-10.30%), Detroit 187 (-12.00%), Dancing With the Stars (-14.00%), Running Wilde (-16.00%), Parenthood (-20.00%).

In late-night metered market ratings, ABC's "Nightline" (3.3/8) took top honors over NBC's "Leno" (2.6/7) and CBS's "Letterman" (3.0/8). Rounding out the night then were "Kimmel" (1.6/5) on ABC "Ferguson" (1.5/5) on CBS and "Fallon" (1.3/5) and "Daly" (0.8/4) on NBC.

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (9/29/09):

CBS (17.15 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.0, #1) towered over the competition on Tuesday thanks to week two of "NCIS" (20.65 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.6, #1), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (17.42 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.2, #2) and "The Good Wife" (13.38 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.2, #4).

The silver then went to NBC (8.23 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.1, #2) with its mix of "The Biggest Loser" (9.03 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.6, #3) and "The Jay Leno Show" (6.63 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.3, #8).

Next up was FOX (5.90 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.7, #3) with fresh installments of "Hell's Kitchen" (6.54 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.1, #5) and "So You Think You Can Dance" (5.26 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.4, #7).

ABC (8.42 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.0, #4) then fell to fourth place with the return of "Shark Tank" (5.28 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.5, #10) followed by new episodes of "Dancing With the Stars" (12.47 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.6, #6) and "The Forgotten" (7.72 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.0, #9).

And finally, new episodes of "90210" (2.46 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.2, #11) and "Melrose Place" (1.53 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.8, #12) on The CW (2.00 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5) rounded out the night.

Source: Nielsen Media Research