nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, january 11, 2011)

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

CBS (17.39 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.5, #1) posted a big win on Tuesday with the return of "NCIS" (21.93 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.5, #1), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (18.03 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.7, #2) and "The Good Wife" (12.22 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #4).

NBC (7.67 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #2) then snagged second place with new episodes of "The Biggest Loser" (8.69 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.2, #3) and "Parenthood" (5.63 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.2, #5).

Next up was FOX (4.90 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.7, #3) with a repeat of "Glee" (4.67 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.7, #8) followed by a new "Million Dollar Money Drop" (5.13 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.8, #7).

Next up was ABC (5.49 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #4) with fresh installments of "No Ordinary Family" (5.42 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.5, #9), "V" (5.76 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.9, #6) and "Detroit 187" (5.30 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.1, #10). All were series lows in the key demographic.

And finally, repeats of "One Tree Hill" (1.07 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.4, #11) and "Life Unexpected" (0.80 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #12) on The CW (0.94 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) closed out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Million Dollar Money Drop (38.50%), NCIS: Los Angeles (15.60% vs. 12/14/10), NCIS (12.50% vs. 12/14/10), The Good Wife (9.50% vs. 12/14/10), The Biggest Loser (-3.00%), Parenthood (-4.30%), V (-9.50%), Detroit 187 (-15.40%), No Ordinary Family (-21.10%).

In late-night metered market ratings, ABC's "Nightline" (3.5/8) took top honors over CBS's "Letterman" (3.2/8) 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" (1.5/5) and "Daly" (0.9/4) on NBC.

Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/12/10):

The return of "American Idol" (29.78 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 11.7, #1) steamrolled its competition on Tuesday, leading FOX (29.78 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 11.7, #1) to an easy victory.

CBS (16.66 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.5, #2) then had to settle for second place despite new episodes of "NCIS" (20.71 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.3, #2), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (15.50 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.0, #T4) and "The Good Wife" (13.79 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.0, #T4).

Next up was NBC (7.46 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.8, #3) with new episodes of "The Biggest Loser" (8.10 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.2, #3) and "The Jay Leno Show" (6.20 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.9, #6).

Meanwhile, ABC (3.13 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #4) offered up its mix of "Scrubs" (2.52 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T10), "Better Off Ted" (2.23 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T10), another "Scrubs" (2.74 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.2, #8), another "Better Off Ted" (2.53 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.0, #9) and "The Forgotten" (4.37 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.3, #7).

And finally, repeats of "90210" (0.77 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T12) and "Melrose Place" (0.69 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T12) on The CW (0.73 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) closed out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research