nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for thursday, november 25, 2010)

Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

FOX (7.57 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.7, #1) with a boost from its NFL afternoon coverage was the network to beat on Thanksgiving with the broadcast premiere of "The Simpsons Movie" (7.57 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.7, #1).

CBS (6.87 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.7, #2) then claimed the silver with its all-repeat lineup of "The Big Bang Theory" (6.36 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T4), "Bleep My Dad Says" (6.05 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T6), another "The Big Bang Theory" (7.14 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.0, #2), "Mike & Molly" (6.50 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #3) and "The Mentalist" (7.59 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T4).

Next up was ABC (4.43 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #3) with repeats of "Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" (4.99 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T6) and "Modern Family" (4.17 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.4, #8) followed by the special "Beyonce: I Am" (4.13 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.3, #9).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.97 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #4) offered up its first-run lineup of "Taylor Swift - Speak Now" (4.42 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.2, #10), "NBC's People of the Year" (4.41 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T11) and "The Apprentice" (3.37 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.9, #13).

And finally, repeats of "The Vampire Diaries" (2.24 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.8, #14) and "Nikita" (3.20 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T11) on TCW (2.72 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): The Apprentice (-25.00%).

In late-night metered market ratings, NBC's "Leno" (2.5/6) took top honors over ABC's "Nightline" (2.3/5) and CBS's "Letterman" (2.3/6). Rounding out the night then were "Kimmel" (1.1/3) on ABC "Ferguson" (1.3/4) on CBS and "Fallon" (1.3/4) and "Daly" (0.5/2) on NBC.

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (11/26/09):

CBS (9.29 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.4, #1) claimed victory on the Thanksgiving holiday with a "Survivor: Samoa" (9.96 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.1, #1) clip show followed by repeats of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (8.73 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T3) and "The Mentalist" (9.20 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.1, #2).

Second place then went to FOX (6.65 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.0, #2) with its presentation of "A Night at the Museum" (6.65 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T3).

Next up was ABC (5.39 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.6, #3) with its mix of "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" (6.40 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T3), "Beyonce: I Am�Yours" (5.14 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.7, #6) and "Paul McCartney: Good Evening New York City" (4.66 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.2, #9).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.32 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #4) offered up full hours of "The Office" (2.68 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T10), "NBC's People of the Year" (5.17 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.4, #8) and "The Jay Leno Show" (5.04 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.6, #7).

And finally, repeats of "The Vampire Diaries" (2.50 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T10) and "Supernatural" (2.21 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T10) on The CW (2.35 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5) rounded out the night.

Source: Nielsen Media Research