nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, february 1, 2011)

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

CBS (17.53 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.5, #1) was Tuesday's top draw thanks to new episodes of "NCIS" (22.70 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.6, #1), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (17.76 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.8, #2) and "The Good Wife" (12.13 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T4).

NBC (8.18 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #2) then took home the silver with fresh installments of "The Biggest Loser" (9.17 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.3, #3) and "Parenthood" (6.20 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T4).

Next up was FOX (5.02 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.7, #3) with a repeat of "Glee" (4.93 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T7) followed by the season finale of "Million Dollar Money Drop" (5.10 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.8, #6).

Meanwhile over on ABC (4.96 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #4), a repeat of "No Ordinary Family" (4.19 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.1, #11) led into new episodes of "V" (5.23 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T7) and "Detroit 187" (5.44 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T9).

And finally, an above-average "One Tree Hill" (2.37 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T9) and a new "Hellcats" (1.91 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.8, #12) on The CW (2.14 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): One Tree Hill (33.30%), NCIS: Los Angeles (15.20% vs. 1/18/11), NCIS (12.20% vs. 1/18/11), The Biggest Loser (10.00%), Detroit 187 (9.10% vs. 1/11/11), Parenthood (4.80% vs. 1/18/11), The Good Wife (4.80% vs. 1/18/11), Million Dollar Money Drop (-5.30% vs. 1/18/11), Hellcats (-11.10%), V (-15.00% vs. 1/18/11).

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

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets (with the Dayton market excluded today), household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 3.1/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 3.3/8; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.9/9; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.8/5.

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," 1.6/6; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.7/4.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/5 in metered-market households) trailed CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.6/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/3 in 18-49) tied "Late Late Show" (0.6/3).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.0/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (2/2/10):

FOX (16.85 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.4, #1) remained the network to beat on Tuesday thanks to a new "American Idol" (24.44 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 8.9, #1) and a special "Kitchen Nightmares" (9.27 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 3.9, #6).

Second place then went to ABC (11.37 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 5.1, #2) with the return of "Lost" (12.43 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 5.7, #2) followed by a second hour of "Lost" (11.75 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 5.5, #3). Leading off the night was the recap special "Lost: The Final Chapter" (9.93 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 4.1, #5).

Next up was CBS (16.06 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.5, #3) with its usual mix of "NCIS" (19.11 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.3, #4), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (16.36 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.6, #8) and "The Good Wife" (12.72 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.6, #9).

Meanwhile, NBC (7.94 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.0, #4) offered up a "The Biggest Loser" (4.98 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.6, #10) as well as a new two-hour "The Biggest Loser" (9.42 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.7, #7).

And finally, repeats of "90210" (0.87 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.3, #11) and "Melrose Place" (0.66 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.2, #12) on The CW (0.77 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research