nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for sunday, april 24, 2011)

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

ABC (7.72 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.2, #1) was the top draw on Easter Sunday with new episodes of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (7.77 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.2, #4), "Desperate Housewives" (9.87 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #T1) and "Brothers & Sisters" (6.63 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.9, #5). A repeat of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (6.60 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.7, #6) led off the night.

NBC (6.00 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.0, #2) then claimed the silver with fresh installments of "Dateline NBC" (4.25 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T12), "America's Next Great Restaurnt" (3.59 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.2, #10) and "The Celebrity Apprentice" (8.08 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.9, #T1).

Next up was CBS (9.15 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #3) with new episodes of "60 Minutes" (10.32 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #7) and "The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business" (9.28 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.5, #3) followed by the original movie "Beyond the Blackboard" (8.50 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #9).

And finally, FOX (3.19 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4) closed out the evening with its all-repeat lineup of "The Simpsons" (2.07 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T12), another "The Simpsons" (2.53 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.0, #11) and "The Simpsons Movie" (3.63 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.4, #8).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): 60 Minutes (23.10%), The Celebrity Apprentice (16.00%), Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (15.80%), Brothers & Sisters (11.80%), The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business (8.70%), Desperate Housewives (7.40%), America's Next Great Restaurnt (0.00%), Dateline NBC (-11.10%).

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (4/25/10):

ABC (8.47 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.3, #1) was the network to beat on a low-key Sunday thanks to its usual mix of "America's Funniest Home Videos" (7.40 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.8, #9), "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (6.95 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T10), "Desperate Housewives" (11.13 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.4, #1) and "Brothers & Sisters" (8.41 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T7).

The silver then went to CBS (9.01 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.8, #2) with new episodes of "60 Minutes" (11.19 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #12) and "The Amazing Race 16" (10.64 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.2, #T2) followed by the premiere of "When Love is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story" (7.11 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T13).

Next up was NBC (6.35 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T3) with fresh installments of "Dateline NBC" (4.11 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.1, #15), "Minute to Win It" (5.58 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T10) and "The Celebrity Apprentice" (7.85 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.0, #4).

And finally, FOX (4.61 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T3) rounded out the evening with its combination of "'Til Death" (2.23 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.8, #16), "The Simpsons" (2.74 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T13), another "The Simpsons" (5.94 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.8, #5), "The Cleveland Show" (5.09 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T7), "Family Guy" (6.36 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 3.2, #T2) and "American Dad" (5.31 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.7, #6).

Source: Nielsen Media Research