nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, november 24, 2010)

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

ABC (7.36 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.3, #1) was the network to beat on Thanksgiving Eve with its mix of "The Middle" (8.18 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.1, #4), "Better With You" (6.78 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T6), "Modern Family" (10.53 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.7, #1), "Cougar Town" (6.72 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.5, #2) and "Primetime: Celebrity Plastic Surgery Gone Too Far?" (5.97 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.8, #8).

Taking home the silver then was FOX (5.32 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.8, #2) with new episodes of "Human Target" (5.60 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T12) and "Hell's Kitchen" (5.05 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3).

Next up was CBS (8.19 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #3) with a new "Survivor: Nicaragua" (8.03 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.0, #5) followed by repeats of "Criminal Minds" (9.18 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T6) and "The Defenders" (7.35 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T12).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.21 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) offered up its combination of "Merry Madagascar" (5.92 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.5, #11), "Kung Fu Panda Holiday Special" (5.92 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.6, #10) and "The Biggest Loser: Where Are They Now?" (9.72 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.7, #9).

And finally, a new "America's Next Top Model" (1.86 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.8, #14) led into a repeat of "Hellcats" (1.03 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.3, #15) on The CW (1.44 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Hell's Kitchen (-15.38%), Cougar Town (-16.67%), Better With You (-17.39%), Modern Family (-21.28%), Human Target (-22.22%), The Middle (-25.00%), America's Next Top Model (-27.27%), Survivor: Nicaragua (-42.86%).

Late-night metered market ratings will appear on Monday.

Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (11/25/09):

CBS (11.03 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.6, #1) claimed top honors on Thanksgiving Eve thanks to its usual mix of "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (7.01 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T8), "Gary Unmarried" (6.80 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T6), "Criminal Minds" (13.51 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.2, #1) and "CSI: NY" (12.67 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #2).

The silver then went to NBC (6.84 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #2) with its "The Biggest Loser: Where Are They Now?" (7.70 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.8, #3) special followed by a new "The Jay Leno Show" (5.11 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T10).

Next up was FOX (5.49 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.0, #3) with fresh installments of "So You Think You Can Dance" (4.88 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T10) and "Glee" (6.11 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.5, #4).

Meanwhile, ABC (5.25 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.7, #4) fell to fourth despite its combination of "Modern Family" (5.54 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T10), "The Middle" (6.00 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T8), another "Modern Family" (7.12 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.4, #5), "Cougar Town" (5.53 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T6) and "Eastwick" (3.65 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.1, #13).

And finally, the feature "Gracie" (1.34 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.4, #14) on The CW (1.34 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research