nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, april 23, 2011)

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

ABC (7.05 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1) was the network to beat on Saturday with its annual Easter weekend rebroadcast of "The Ten Commandments" (7.05 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1).

FOX (4.48 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #2) then had to settle for second place with its usual mix of "Cops" (4.32 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3) and "America's Most Wanted" (4.65 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2).

Next up was CBS (4.65 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #3) with repeats of "CSI: NY" (4.03 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T7) and "CSI: Miami" (4.85 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #6) followed by a new "48 Hours Mystery" (5.08 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #4).

And finally, the return of "Chase" (3.05 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T7) led into repeats of "Law & Order: Los Angeles" (3.24 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T7) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.03 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5) on NBC (3.44 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4).

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

An encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live" (3.6/9 in metered-market households), hosted by Jesse Eisenberg and featuring musical guest Nicki Minaj, dominated its time period.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 1.9 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49, making it the #1 telecast of the night, outscoring all primetime programs on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.

Here are the highlights of the 10 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (4/24/10):

FOX (4.89 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1) remained in the top spot on Saturday thanks to its usual mix of "Cops" (5.00 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T1) and "America's Most Wanted" (4.78 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T1).

Second place then went to CBS (4.58 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2) with repeats of "CSI: NY" (3.66 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #9), "48 Hours Mystery" (4.20 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T6) and a new "48 Hours Mystery" (5.88 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T3).

Next up was NBC (3.41 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2) with its all-repeat lineup of "Parenthood" (1.94 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.5, #10), "Law & Order" (3.56 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T6) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.73 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T3).

And finally, second runs of "Norbit" (3.16 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5) and "Castle" (3.46 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T6) on ABC (3.26 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research