nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for thursday, january 13, 2011)

Here are the highlights of the 17 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

ABC (9.58 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.3, #1) was the network to beat on Thursday with its mix of "Wipeout" (10.52 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.6, #2), "Grey's Anatomy" (12.21 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.4, #1) and an encore of "Off the Map" (6.02 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.0, #6).

The silver then went to CBS (10.12 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.3, #2) with its lineup of "The Big Bang Theory" (10.41 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.0, #3), a new "Bleep My Dad Says" (10.19 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.9, #4), "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (9.73 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.1, #5) and "The Mentalist" (10.33 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.9, #7).

Next up was FOX (5.04 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #3) with a new "Million Dollar Money Drop" (5.65 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T8) followed by a repeat of "Bones" (4.43 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T12).

Meanwhile, NBC (2.89 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #4) was all repeats with its combination of "Community" (2.78 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T15), another "Community" (2.45 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.2, #14), "The Office" (3.25 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.5, #10), another "The Office" (3.60 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T8), "30 Rock" (2.80 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T12) and another "30 Rock" (2.47 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T15).

And finally, repeats of "The Vampire Diaries" (1.65 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.6, #16) and "Nikita" (1.52 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 0.5, #17) on The CW (1.58 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5) closed out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Million Dollar Money Drop (30.80%), Grey's Anatomy (4.80%), Wipeout (-2.70%).

In late-night metered market ratings (adults 18-49):
"Nightline" 3.2/7 (1.0)
"Late Show with David Letterman" 3.0/7 (0.9)
"The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" 2.8/7 (0.9)
"Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" 1.5/5 (0.5)
"Jimmy Kimmel Live" 1.4/4 (0.5)
"Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" 1.3/4 (0.5)
"Last Call with Carson Daly" 0.7/3 (0.3)

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/14/10):

ABC (9.72 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.4, #1) claimed top honors on Thursday thanks to an "ABC News Special" (5.41 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T12) as well as new episodes of "Grey's Anatomy" (12.73 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.8, #1) and "Private Practice" (11.02 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.3, #2).

Second place then went to CBS (13.43 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.9, #T2) with a repeat of "The Mentalist" (9.64 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.0, #11) followed by new episodes of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (15.39 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.4, #T3) and "The Mentalist" (15.28 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.4, #T3).

Next up was FOX (8.64 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.9, #T2) with fresh installments of "Bones" (10.67 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.3, #5) and "Fringe" (6.61 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.6, #6).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.83 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.0, #4) offered up new episodes of "Community" (5.42 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T7), "Parks & Recreation" (4.59 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.1, #10), "30 Rock" (5.12 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T7), another "30 Rock" (5.01 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T7) and "The Jay Leno Show" (4.42 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T12).

And finally, repeats of "The Vampire Diaries" (1.68 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.7, #14) and "Supernatural" (1.31 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.6, #15) on The CW (1.49 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research