nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, april 19, 2011)

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

FOX (7.06 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.8, #1) was the network to beat on Tuesday with the return of "Glee" (9.66 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.7, #1) and "Raising Hope" (5.66 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T7) followed by a new "Traffic Light" (3.27 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.4, #10).

NBC (6.50 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.4, #2) then took home the silver with a new "The Biggest Loser" (6.60 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.3, #6) and the season finale of "Parenthood" (6.31 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.5, #3) - its highest 18-49 rating since September 21 and biggest overall viewer total since the season premiere on September 14.

Next up was CBS (11.16 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3) with its repeat mix of "NCIS" (13.30 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T7), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (11.21 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T4) and another "NCIS: Los Angeles" (8.97 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.0, #9).

Meanwhile, ABC (10.67 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.1, #4) offered up its combination of "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution" (4.68 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.1, #11), "Dancing With the Stars" (15.84 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.9, #2) and "Body of Proof" (11.51 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T4).

And finally, the return of "One Tree Hill" (1.43 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.7, #12) and "Hellcats" (1.14 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.5, #13) on The CW (1.29 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Traffic Light (55.60%), Parenthood (25.00%), Dancing With the Stars (-3.30%), Body of Proof (-4.00%), Glee (-7.50% vs. 3/15/11), The Biggest Loser (-11.50%), Raising Hope (-12.00% vs. 3/15/11), One Tree Hill (-12.50% vs. 3/1/11), Hellcats (-16.70% vs. 3/1/11), Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution (-21.40%).

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," 2.3/6 with an encore telecast; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.5/6 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.9/9; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.9/6.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/4 with an encore; "Late Show," 0.5/2 with an encore; "Nightline," 1.1/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.7/4.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.2/4 in metered-market households with an encore) trailed CBS's first-run "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.4/5 with an encore). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/3 in 18-49 with an encore) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/4 with an encore 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 (4/20/10):

New episodes of "American Idol" (19.14 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.7, #1) and "Glee" (13.51 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 5.3, #2) had no trouble keeping FOX (16.32 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.0, #1) in front on Tuesday.

NBC (8.03 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.2, #2) then claimed a rare second place finish with new episodes of "The Biggest Loser" (8.44 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.3, #4) and "Parenthood" (7.22 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.9, #5).

Next up was ABC (9.61 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #3) with fresh installments of "Dancing With the Stars" (13.45 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #6), "Lost" (9.35 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.6, #3) and "V" (6.03 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.3, #7).

Meanwhile, CBS (9.23 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.7, #4) offered up repeats of "NCIS" (9.84 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.7, #9), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (10.17 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.0, #8) and "The Good Wife" (7.69 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.4, #10).

And finally, repeats of "90210" (0.92 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.4, #11) and "Life Unexpected" (0.91 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #12) on The CW (0.91 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) closed out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research