nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, february 8, 2011)

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

FOX (8.58 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.4, #1) narrowly took home top demo honors on Tuesday with a new "Glee" (11.47 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.5, #1) followed by the return of "Raising Hope" (6.78 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.8, #5) and the launch of "Traffic Light" (4.59 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T7).

CBS (16.40 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.3, #2) then snagged a competitive second place with its usual mix of "NCIS" (20.30 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.2, #2), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (17.07 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.5, #3) and "The Good Wife" (11.82 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #6).

Next up was NBC (7.33 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.6, #3) with fresh installments of"The Biggest Loser" (8.38 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.0, #4) and "Parenthood" (5.24 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T7).

Meanwhile, ABC (5.39 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #4) offered up its struggling combination of "No Ordinary Family" (5.24 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.5, #10), "V" (5.39 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.8, #9) and "Detroit 187" (5.55 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.3, #11).

And finally, new episodes of "One Tree Hill" (1.63 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T12) and "Hellcats" (1.69 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T12) on The CW (1.66 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Detroit 187 (8.30%), V (5.90%), Glee (2.30% vs. 12/7/10), The Good Wife (0.00%), Raising Hope (-3.40% vs. 12/7/10), NCIS: Los Angeles (-7.90%), NCIS (-8.70%), The Biggest Loser (-9.10%), Hellcats (-12.50%), Parenthood (-13.60%), No Ordinary Family (-16.70% vs. 1/18/11), One Tree Hill (-41.70%).

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," 2.9/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 3.2/8; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.0/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.3/4.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.9/4; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.4/2.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/5 in metered-market households) trailed CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.5/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.5/3).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 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 (2/9/10):

FOX (18.38 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.6, #1) was the network to beat on Tuesday thanks to a new "American Idol" (27.74 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 10.1, #1). Leading out of said hour was the premiere of the Thursday-bound "Past Life" (9.02 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T6).

Second place then went to CBS (17.39 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.8, #2) with new episodes of "NCIS" (19.68 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.2, #3), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (17.82 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.1, #4) and "The Good Wife" (14.69 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T6).

Next up was NBC (7.98 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.0, #3) with a new "The Biggest Loser" (9.04 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.5, #5) and the series finale of "The Jay Leno Show" (5.86 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.8, #9).

Meanwhile, ABC (7.27 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.9, #4) offered up a new "Lost" (11.02 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 5.0, #2) bookended by a repeat of "Lost" (4.86 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.7, #10) and a new "The Forgotten" (5.93 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.0, #8).

And finally, repeats of "90210" (0.91 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.4, #11) and "Melrose Place" (0.73 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #12) on The CW (0.82 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research