nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for thursday, april 7, 2011)

Here are the highlights of the 17 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

FOX (15.96 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.8, #1) didn't miss a ratings beat on Thursday with new episodes of "American Idol" (20.65 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.1, #1) and "Bones" (11.28 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.4, #3).

CBS (12.41 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #2) then took home the silver with new episodes of "The Big Bang Theory" (11.24 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.6, #2), "Rules of Engagement" (8.61 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.5, #6), "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (12.61 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.8, #5) and "The Mentalist" (14.68 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #4).

Next up was NBC (2.77 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3) and its combination of "Community" (2.30 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T15), the departing "Perfect Couples" (2.26 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 1.0, #14), "The Office" (3.56 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.7, #7), "Parks & Recreation" (2.91 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.4, #9), "30 Rock" (2.66 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T10) and a new "Outsourced" (2.91 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T10) - a series low.

Meanwhile, ABC (3.86 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4) offered up its all-repeat lineup of "Wipeout" (5.10 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.6, #8), "Grey's Anatomy" (4.02 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T10) and "Private Practice" (2.46 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T15).

And finally, the return of "The Vampire Diaries" (2.75 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.2, #13) and "Nikita" (1.78 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 0.7, #17) on The CW (2.26 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Rules of Engagement (8.70%), The Mentalist (3.60%), The Big Bang Theory (0.00%), Bones (0.00% vs. 3/17/11), CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (0.00%), Perfect Couples (0.00%), The Vampire Diaries (-7.70% vs. 2/24/11), American Idol (-9.00%), Nikita (-12.50% vs. 2/24/11), Outsourced (-13.30% vs. 3/24/11).

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," 2.6/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.0/6 with an encore delayed by golf; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.9/7; 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," 0.5/3 with an encore delayed by golf; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/4.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/5 in metered-market households) tied CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.3/5 with an encore delayed by golf). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3 with an encore delayed by golf).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 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 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (4/8/10):

New episodes of "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains" (12.18 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.7, #1), "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (15.03 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.5, #T2) and "The Mentalist" (16.08 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.5, #T2) put CBS (14.43 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.6, #1) in front on Thursday.

The silver then went to FOX (8.12 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.5, #2) with fresh installment of "Bones" (9.79 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.7, #4) and "Fringe" (6.46 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.3, #5).

Next up was NBC (4.00 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.7, #3) with repeats of "Community" (3.36 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T13), "Parks & Recreation" (3.20 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.3, #12), "The Office" (4.16 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.9, #7) and "30 Rock" (3.72 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T8) leading into a new "The Marriage Ref" (4.77 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.1, #6).

Meanwhile, ABC (4.61 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T4) offered up a new "FlashForward" (5.45 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T8) followed by repeats of "Grey's Anatomy" (4.78 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.4, #11) and "Private Practice" (3.61 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.1, #15).

And finally, new episodes of "The Vampire Diaries" (3.50 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T8) and "Supernatural" (2.77 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T13) on The CW (3.13 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T4) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research