nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for monday, november 29, 2010)

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

CBS (8.65 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.4, #1) was the network to beat on Monday despite an all-repeat lineup of "How I Met Your Mother" (8.50 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.7, #2), "Rules of Engagement" (7.82 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.4, #3), "Two and a Half Men" (11.25 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.0, #1), "Mike & Molly" (8.90 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.3, #4) and "Hawaii Five-0" (7.71 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T7).

FOX (5.69 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.9, #2) then claimed the silver with a repeat of "House" (5.08 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T9) followed by a new "Lie to Me" (6.31 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.2, #5), which tied its season high in adults 18-49.

Next up was NBC (6.01 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.8, #3) with new episodes of "Chuck" (6.17 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.0, #6), "The Event" (5.83 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T7) and "Chase" (6.03 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T9). Said numbers mark "Chuck's" most-watched episode of the season.

ABC (6.69 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #4) then was out of the hunt with week two of "Skating With the Stars" (6.04 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.2, #12) and the special "CMA Country Christmas" (7.34 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.4, #11).

And finally, new episodes of "90210" (2.02 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T13) and "Gossip Girl" (1.98 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T13) on The CW (2.00 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Lie to Me (22.20%), Chuck (17.60%), Chase (14.30%), The Event (11.80%), 90210 (11.10% vs. 11/15/10), Gossip Girl (11.10% vs. 11/15/10), Skating With the Stars (-45.50%).

In late-night metered market ratings, NBC's "Leno" (3.3/8) took top honors ahead of CBS's "Letterman" (2.4/6) and ABC's "Nightline" (3.1/7). Rounding out the night then were "Kimmel" (1.5/5) on ABC "Ferguson" (1.3/5) on CBS and "Fallon" (1.4/5) and "Daly" (0.8/3) on NBC.

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (11/30/09):

New episodes of "House" (13.18 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.8, #1) and "Lie to Me" (7.58 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.8, #6) powered FOX (10.38 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.8, #1) to top adults 18-49 honors on Monday.

The silver then went to CBS (10.65 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.5, #2) despite its all-repeat lineup of "How I Met Your Mother" (6.25 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.1, #10), "Accidentally on Purpose" (5.40 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.7, #13), "Two and a Half Men" (11.34 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.1, #4), "The Big Bang Theory" (10.08 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.3, #2) and "CSI: Miami" (9.41 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T7).

Next up was ABC (8.14 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #3) with its mix of "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (9.64 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.9, #5), "Shrek the Halls" (10.01 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.2, #3), "Find My Family" (7.85 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.3, #9) and "Castle" (6.75 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.9, #11).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.50 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.9, #4) offered up the fall finales of "Heroes" (5.90 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T7) and "Trauma" (5.88 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.8, #12) followed by a new "The Jay Leno Show" (4.71 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.3, #14).

And finally, new episodes of "One Tree Hill" (2.37 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T15) and "Gossip Girl" (2.25 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T15) on The CW (2.31 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.1, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research