nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for thursday, march 3, 2011)

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

FOX (24.96 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 8.1, #1) dominated its nearly all-repeat competition with a special two-hour "American Idol" (24.96 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 8.1, #1). Said numbers marked the highest rated Thursday night on any network in four years among adults 18-49 (since 3/8/07) and total viewers (since 3/1/07, excluding sports).

A distant second place then went to CBS (9.30 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.0, #2) with its mix of "The Big Bang Theory" (9.17 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.5, #2), "Rules of Engagement" (8.32 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.3, #3), "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (8.73 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #5) and "The Mentalist" (10.43 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.9, #4).

Next up was NBC (3.01 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #3) with marathon lineup of "The Office" (2.99 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.1, #13), "The Office" (3.00 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.3, #10), "The Office" (3.24 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.6, #6), "The Office" (3.09 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.5, #7), "The Office" (2.99 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T8) and "The Office" (2.73 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T11).

Meanwhile, ABC (4.04 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4) was likewise out of the hunt with its repeat combination of "Wipeout" (5.01 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T8), "Grey's Anatomy" (3.97 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T11) and "Private Practice" (3.14 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.9, #14).

And finally, repeats of "The Vampire Diaries" (1.17 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.5, #15) and "Nikita" (1.14 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.3, #16) on The CW (1.16 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): American Idol (12.5%), Rules of Engagement (-17.9%).

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

Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 2.6/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 3.1/8; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.7/7; 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," 0.8/4; "Late Show," 1.0/4; "Nightline," 0.8/3; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.4/2 with an encore.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/5 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) tied "Late Late Show" (0.6/4).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 in metered-market households and a 0.5/4 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (3/4/10):

FOX (13.70 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.9, #1) claimed the adults 18-49 crown on Thursday thanks to special editions of "American Idol" (19.31 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.5, #1) and "Kitchen Nightmares" (8.09 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.3, #8).

CBS (14.34 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.6, #2) however was tops in total viewers with its mix of "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains" (12.69 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.8, #5), "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (15.57 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.7, #6) and "The Mentalist" (14.78 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.2, #9).

Next up was NBC (7.19 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.5, #3) with new episodes of "Community" (5.06 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T11), "Parks & Recreation" (4.64 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T11), "The Office" (8.71 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 4.5, #3), a second "The Office" (9.35 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 4.9, #2) and the premiere of "The Marriage Ref" (7.71 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 3.4, #7).

Meanwhile, ABC (8.16 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.6, #4) offered up a repeat of "Grey's Anatomy" (5.05 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.2, #13) followed by new episodes of "Grey's Anatomy" (11.79 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 4.0, #4) and "Private Practice" (7.65 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.7, #10).

And finally, repeats of "The Vampire Diaries" (1.69 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.7, #14) and "Supernatural" (1.55 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.6, #15) on The CW (1.62 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5) rounded out the night.

Source: Nielsen Media Research