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

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

FOX (18.14 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.5, #1) reaped the rewards of a special 90-minute "American Idol" (21.26 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.5, #1) on Tuesday as lead-out "Raising Hope" (8.76 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.4, #3) was pushed to a series high.

CBS (15.37 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.1, #2) then got bumped to second place with its usual mix of "NCIS" (19.20 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.8, #2), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (15.59 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.2, #T4) and "The Good Wife" (11.31 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #7).

Next up was NBC (6.37 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #3) with new episodes of "The Biggest Loser" (7.03 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.4, #6) and "Parenthood" (5.04 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.9, #8).

Meanwhile, ABC (6.19 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.1, #4) offered up fresh installments of "No Ordinary Family" (4.26 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.2, #10) and "V" (5.00 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.8, #9) followed by a special "20/20 - Charlie Sheen: In His Own Words" (9.30 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.2, #T4).

And finally, new episodes of "One Tree Hill" (1.64 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.8, #11) and "Hellcats" (1.47 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.6, #12) on The CW (1.56 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Raising Hope (36.00%), The Good Wife (15.80%), Hellcats (0.00%), V (-5.30%), Parenthood (-9.50%), One Tree Hill (-11.10%), The Biggest Loser (-11.10%), NCIS (-13.60%), No Ordinary Family (-14.30%), NCIS: Los Angeles (-17.90%).

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," 3.0/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.6/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.5/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 1.3/6; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.8/4.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.3/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/4 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 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (3/2/10):

FOX (23.44 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 8.6, #1) crushed the competition on Tuesday thanks to another two-hour edition of "American Idol" (23.44 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 8.6, #1).

CBS (15.98 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.3, #2) once again had to settle for second place with new episodes of "NCIS" (19.67 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.1, #2), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (14.97 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T4) and "The Good Wife" (13.29 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.7, #7).

NBC (8.18 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.1, #3) then claimed the bronze with a new "The Biggest Loser" (8.23 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T4) and the premiere of "Parenthood" (8.07 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T4).

Meanwhile, ABC (6.31 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.5, #4) offered up a repeat of "Lost" (4.33 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.6, #9) followed by a new "Lost" (9.18 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 4.0, #3) and "20/20: Before They Were Famous" (5.42 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.8, #8).

And finally, repeats of "90210" (0.74 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T10) and "Melrose Place" (0.65 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T10) on The CW (0.69 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) rounded out the night.

Source: Nielsen Media Research