nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for thursday, december 2, 2010)

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

With CBS (9.09 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.9, #4) in repeats, ABC (8.76 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.1, #1) coasted to victory on Thursday with its mix of "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" (7.34 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T7) and new episodes of "Grey's Anatomy" (10.94 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.0, #1) and "Private Practice" (8.01 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.9, #3).

NBC (5.09 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #2) then snagged a rare second place finish with new episodes of "Community" (4.96 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T9), "30 Rock" (5.02 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T7), "The Office" (7.31 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 3.7, #2), "Outsourced" (5.37 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.5, #4) and "The Apprentice" (4.11 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.4, #15).

Next up was FOX (7.00 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.1, #3) with fresh installments of "Bones" (8.87 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T5) and "Fringe" (5.13 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.8, #12).

As for CBS, the Eye offered up its all-repeat lineup of "The Big Bang Theory" (8.91 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T5), "Bleep My Dad Says" (7.44 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T9), "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (9.76 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T9) and "The Mentalist" (9.34 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.7, #13).

And finally, new episodes of "The Vampire Diaries" (3.70 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.6, #14) and "Nikita" (2.75 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 1.0, #16) on The CW (3.23 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.3, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): The Apprentice (55.60%), Nikita (11.10% vs. 11/11/10), The Vampire Diaries (0.00% vs. 11/11/10), Community (0.00% vs. 11/18/10), 30 Rock (0.00% vs. 11/18/10), The Office (0.00% vs. 11/18/10), Private Practice (-3.30% vs. 11/18/10), Fringe (-5.30% vs. 11/18/10), Grey's Anatomy (-7.00% vs. 11/18/10), Outsourced (-7.40% vs. 11/18/10), Bones (-11.10% vs. 11/18/10).

In late-night metered market ratings, ABC's "Nightline" (3.4/8) took top honors over NBC's "Leno" (2.9/7) and CBS's "Letterman" (2.5/6). Rounding out the night then were "Kimmel" (1.5/5) on ABC "Ferguson" (1.4/5) on CBS and "Fallon" (1.3/4) and "Daly" (0.7/3) on NBC.

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (12/3/09):

CBS (11.12 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.9, #T1) was the network to beat on Thursday thanks to a new "Survivor: Samoa" (12.75 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.9, #2) and repeats of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (9.88 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.3, #9) and "The Mentalist" (10.72 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.6, #7).

Sharing the adults 18-49 crown then was ABC (8.77 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #T1) with the fall finale of "FlashForward" (7.29 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T10) followed by a new "Private Practice" (9.27 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.1, #4) and a second hour of "Private Practice" (9.75 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.4, #3).

Next up was FOX (8.39 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.7, #3) with new episodes of "Bones" (9.93 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.9, #6) and "Fringe" (6.86 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.5, #8).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.65 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.4, #4) offered up fresh installments of "Community" (5.38 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T10), "Parks & Recreation" (4.83 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.1, #12), "The Office" (8.05 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 4.1, #1), "30 Rock" (6.17 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 3.0, #5) and "The Jay Leno Show" (4.73 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.5, #13).

And finally, repeats of "The Vampire Diaries" (1.99 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T14) and "Supernatural" (1.91 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T14) on The CW (1.95 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research