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[02/25/11 - 08:57 AM]
Thursday's Broadcast Ratings: Expanded "Idol" Takes Top Honors
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for thursday, february 24, 2011)

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

FOX (21.58 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.2, #1) was once the ratings king on Thursday with an expanded two-hour edition of "American Idol" (21.58 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.2, #1).

CBS (12.74 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #2) had to settle for the silver with its new lineup of "The Big Bang Theory" (12.51 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.8, #2). "Rules of Engagement" (9.63 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.8, #T5), "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (12.48 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.7, #7) and "The Mentalist" (14.67 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #T5).

Next up was ABC (7.63 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.6, #3) with fresh installments of "Wipeout" (7.09 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.2, #11), "Grey's Anatomy" (9.09 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.3, #T3) and "Private Practice" (6.70 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T8).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.27 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.1, #4) offered up its mix of "Community" (3.91 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.8, #12), "Perfect Couples" (2.96 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.4, #14), "The Office" (6.20 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 3.3, #T3), "Parks & Recreation" (4.65 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T8), "30 Rock" (4.51 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.3, #10) and "Outsourced" (3.39 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.5, #13).

And finally, in their last episodes until April 7, The CW (2.46 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5) offered up new episodes of "The Vampire Diaries" (2.94 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.3, #15) and "Nikita" (1.99 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.8, #16).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Wipeout (15.80%), 30 Rock (15.00%), Parks & Recreation (4.30%), The Big Bang Theory (2.70%), The Office (0.00%), Private Practice (0.00%), Community (0.00%), Outsourced (0.00%), Perfect Couples (0.00%), Nikita (0.00%), American Idol (-4.00%), The Mentalist (-6.70%), CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (-6.90%), The Vampire Diaries (-7.10%), Grey's Anatomy (-10.80%), Rules of Engagement (-12.50%).

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

Nielsen's 56 metered markets (with four markets excluded today), household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 2.7/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 3.3/8; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.2/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.6/5 with an encore.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.0/4; "Late Show," 0.9/4; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3 with an encore.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/4 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" (0.7/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/2).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.7/3 in metered-market households and a 0.3/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.


Here are the highlights of the 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (2/25/10):

NBC (22.49 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.8, #1) was the network to beat on Thursday thanks to its "Winter Olympics 2010" (22.49 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.8, #2) coverage.

FOX (12.75 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.9, #2) then had to settle for second place despite a top showing from "American Idol" (17.83 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 6.4, #1) among adults 18-49. Leading out of the broadcast was a new "Kitchen Nightmares" (7.66 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.5, #4).

Next up was CBS (9.60 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.5, #3) with a new "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains" (11.51 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.7, #3) followed by repeats of "The Mentalist" (9.60 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #5) and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (7.69 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.8, #6).

Meanwhile, ABC (4.01 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4) offered up the season finale of "The Deep End" (3.85 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T8) and repeats of "Grey's Anatomy" (4.55 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.3, #7) and "Private Practice" (3.62 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T8).

And finally, repeats of "The Vampire Diaries" (1.66 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.7, #10) and "Supernatural" (1.52 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.6, #11) on The CW (1.59 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5) closed out the night.

Source: Nielsen Media Research





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