nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for monday, may 23, 2011)

Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

ABC (13.56 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.4, #1) was the network to beat on Monday with a new "Dancing With the Stars" (22.15 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.6, #1) followed by the return of "The Bachelorette" (9.27 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #3).

FOX (7.97 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.6, #2) then claimed the silver with the season finales of "House" (8.90 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.3, #2) and "The Chicago Code" (7.03 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T5).

Next up was CBS (6.32 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.8, #3) with repeats of "How I Met Your Mother" (4.64 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T8), another "How I Met Your Mother" (4.14 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T8), "Two and a Half Men" (8.04 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #4), "Mike & Molly" (7.21 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.9, #7) and the new special "Clash of the Commercials: USA vs the World" (6.96 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T5).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.94 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #4) offered up a new "Minute to Win It" (4.30 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T8), the season finale of "The Event" (4.57 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T8) and a new "Law & Order: LA" (5.95 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.4, #12).

And finally, repeats of "90210" (0.67 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #13) and "Gossip Girl" (0.52 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.2, #14) on The CW (0.60 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.2, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Law & Order: LA (27.30%), The Event (15.40%), The Chicago Code (5.30%), Dancing With the Stars (4.50%), House (-5.70%).

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," 3.0/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 3.0/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.3/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.7/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 1.0/4; "Nightline," 1.1/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.3/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.5/3).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.0/4 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 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (5/24/10):

CBS (11.89 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.9, #1) snagged top adults 18-49 honors on Monday with its season finales of "How I Met Your Mother" (8.17 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 3.5, #4), "Rules of Engagement" (8.23 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.3, #5), "Two and a Half Men" (15.37 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 5.0, #2), the Thursday-bound "The Big Bang Theory" (14.78 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 5.2, #1) and the Sunday-bound "CSI: Miami" (12.38 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.2, #6).

ABC (12.48 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.2, #2) then took home the viewership crown with a new "Dancing With the Stars" (19.08 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.0, #3) followed by the season premiere of "The Bachelorette" (9.18 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.9, #T7).

Next up was FOX (8.85 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.7, #3) with the penultimate hour of "24" (8.40 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.6, #9) and the series finale of "24" (9.31 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.9, #T7).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.91 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #4) offered up a new "Chuck" (4.96 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.7, #12), the season finale of "Chuck" (5.16 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.8, #11) and the - after 20 years - series finale of "Law & Order" (7.60 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.9, #10).

And finally, repeats of "Gossip Girl" (0.90 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.4, #13) and "One Tree Hill" (0.57 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.2, #14) on The CW (0.73 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research