nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for monday, january 31, 2011)

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

ABC (8.42 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.7, #1) was Monday's top draw thanks to a new "The Bachelor" (9.50 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.2, #1) and a repeat of "Castle" (6.27 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T10).

CBS (8.15 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #2) then claimed the silver with its all-repeat lineup of "How I Met Your Mother" (7.38 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T3), "Rules of Engagement" (7.45 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T3), "Two and a Half Men" (11.21 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.1, #2), "Mike & Molly" (9.13 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.4, #5) and "Hawaii Five-0" (6.87 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.8, #9).

Next up was FOX (7.43 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3) with a special "Human Target" (7.81 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T7) followed by the season finale of "Lie to Me" (7.05 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.2, #6).

Meanwhile, NBC (7.24 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #4) offered up its combination of "Chuck" (5.56 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T10), "The Cape" (5.30 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.5, #12) and "Harry's Law" (10.86 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T7).

And finally, new episodes of "90210" (1.75 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T13) and "Gossip Girl" (1.50 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T13) on The CW (1.63 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5) closed out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Human Target (75.00% vs. 1/14/11), The Bachelor (14.30%), 90210 (0.00%), Harry's Law (0.00%), The Cape (-6.30%), Gossip Girl (-11.10%), Lie to Me (-12.00%), Chuck (-15.00%).

In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release):

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 3.6/9; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 3.2/8; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.7/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.7/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.1/5; "Late Show," 1.0/4; "Nightline," 1.3/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/5 in metered-market households) tied CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.5/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49) tied "Late Late Show" (0.5/3).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 in metered-market households and a 0.3/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (2/1/10):

CBS (12.74 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.1, #1) was the network to beat on Monday thanks to new episodes of "How I Met Your Mother" (9.37 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.7, #T5), "Accidentally on Purpose" (8.53 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T7), "Two and a Half Men" (16.50 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.1, #2), "The Big Bang Theory" (15.44 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 5.4, #1) and "CSI: Miami" (13.30 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.7, #T5).

The silver then went to FOX (11.55 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.9, #2) with fresh installments of "House" (13.35 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.9, #3) and "24" (9.76 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T7).

Next up was ABC (10.43 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.5, #3) with a new "The Bachelor" (11.66 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 4.1, #4) followed by a repeat of "Castle" (7.96 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.3, #10).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.01 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.9, #4) offered up new episodes of "Chuck" (6.72 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.5, #9) and the soon the depart "Heroes" (4.40 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.0, #11) and "The Jay Leno Show" (3.91 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.2, #12).

And finally, new episodes of "One Tree Hill" (2.15 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T13) and "Life Unexpected" (2.07 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T13) on The CW (2.11 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research