nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, december 21, 2010)

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

NBC (6.35 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.3, #1) snagged the adults 18-49 crown with a new "Minute to Win It" (7.00 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T3) followed by a rebroadcast of "SNL Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas" (6.02 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.3, #1).

CBS (10.13 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.9, #2) however was the most-watched network despite an all-repeat lineup of "NCIS" (12.32 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.2, #2), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (11.31 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T3) and "The Good Wife" (6.76 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T6).

Next up was FOX (4.79 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.7, #3) with a repeat of "Glee" (4.08 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T6) followed by night two of "Million Dollar Money Drop" (5.51 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.0, #5).

Meanwhile, ABC (3.72 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4) offered up the season finale of "Skating With the Stars" (3.42 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T9) followed by repeats of "No Ordinary Family" (3.14 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T9) and "Detroit 187" (4.59 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.9, #8).

And finally, repeats of "One Tree Hill" (1.03 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.4, #11) and "Life Unexpected" (0.75 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #12) on The CW (0.89 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Minute to Win It (-8.70%).

In late-night metered market ratings, ABC's "Nightline" (3.2/7) took top honors over CBS's "Letterman" (2.8/7) and NBC's "Leno" (3.0/7). Rounding out the night then were "Kimmel" (1.6/5) on ABC "Ferguson" (1.6/5) on CBS and "Fallon" (1.4/4) and "Daly" (0.8/3) on NBC.

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (12/22/09):

Repeats of "NCIS" (15.38 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.9, #1), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (12.33 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.5, #2) and "The Good Wife" (9.00 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.7, #3) still managed to put CBS (12.24 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.4, #1) in front on Tuesday.

The silver then went to NBC (4.59 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #2) with a repeat of "The Biggest Loser: Where Are They Now?" (4.30 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T4) and a new "The Jay Leno Show" (5.17 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T4).

Next up was ABC (4.06 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #3) with its mix of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (5.67 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T4), "Scrubs" (3.55 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.3, #7), "Better Off Ted" (2.88 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.0, #9) and "Christmas at the White House: An Oprah Primetime Special" (3.29 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.9, #10).

Meanwhile, FOX (4.08 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4) offered up an encore of "Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special" (4.08 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.1, #8).

And finally, repeats of "90210" (1.06 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.5, #11) and "Melrose Place" (0.65 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #12) on The CW (0.86 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research