nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, april 26, 2011)

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

NBC (10.34 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.3, #1) pulled off a rare Tuesday win thanks to a new "The Biggest Loser" (7.50 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.7, #4) and the two-hour launch of "The Voice" (11.77 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 5.1, #1). Overall, "The Voice" delivered the highest 18-49 rating for a series premiere on ABC, CBS, NBC or FOX since "Undercover Boss" debuted following the Super Bowl on February 7, 2010.

FOX (7.55 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.0, #2) then took home the silver with an expanded 90-minute episode of "Glee" (8.54 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.4, #3) followed by a new "Raising Hope" (4.60 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.9, #9).

Next up was ABC (14.30 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.7, #3) with its "Dancing With the Stars: Road to the Finals" (12.85 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #5) recap alongside new episodes of "Dancing With the Stars" (18.00 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.5, #2) and "Body of Proof" (12.06 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #6).

Meanwhile, CBS (9.79 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.9, #4) offered up its all-repeat lineup of "NCIS" (11.14 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T7), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (10.22 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T7) and "The Mentalist" (8.01 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.6, #10).

And finally, fresh installments of "One Tree Hill" (1.54 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.7, #11) and "Hellcats" (1.06 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.4, #12) on The CW (1.30 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Dancing With the Stars (20.70%), The Biggest Loser (17.40%), One Tree Hill (0.00%), Body of Proof (-4.20%), Glee (-8.10%), Raising Hope (-13.60%), Hellcats (-20.00%).

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," 3.4/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.6/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.8/9; 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,� 1.2/5; "Late Show," 0.6/3; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.7/6 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/4 with an encore). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.7/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.2/1 with an encore).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.1/5 with an encore 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 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (4/27/10):

FOX (15.69 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.9, #1) went untouched once again on Tuesday thanks to new episodes of "American Idol" (18.81 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.6, #1) and "Glee" (12.58 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 5.3, #2).

CBS (14.53 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #2) then had to settle for second place with new episodes of "NCIS" (15.91 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.4, #3), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (15.53 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.2, #4) and "The Good Wife" (12.12 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.2, #8).

Next up was NBC (6.94 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.7, #3) with fresh episodes of "The Biggest Loser" (7.45 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.7, #5) and "Parenthood" (5.91 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.4, #6).

Meanwhile, ABC (7.58 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.0, #4) offered up a new "Dancing With the Stars" (12.15 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.3, #7), a repeat of "Lost" (5.61 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.8, #10) and a new "V" (4.99 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.9, #9).

And finally, a new "90210" (1.54 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.7, #11) lead into a repeat of "Life Unexpected" (0.99 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.4, #12) on The CW (1.27 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5).

Source: Nielsen Media Research