nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, may 24, 2011)

Here are the highlights of the 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

FOX (16.03 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 5.4, #1) won the penultimate night of the May sweeps period with a new "American Idol" (19.96 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 6.2, #1) and the season finale of "Glee" (12.10 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.6, #2).

ABC (17.41 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.7, #2) however was the most-watched network with its "Dancing With the Stars Recap" (10.29 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.0, #6) followed by the two-hour season finale of "Dancing With the Stars" (20.97 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.5, #3).

Next up was NBC (8.24 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.3, #3) with the season finale of "The Biggest Loser" (8.08 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 3.1, #5) and a new "The Voice" (8.55 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.8, #4).

Meanwhile, CBS (9.29 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.7, #4) offered up repeats of "NCIS" (10.24 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.8, #7), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (9.27 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T8) and another "NCIS: Los Angeles" (8.37 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T8).

And finally, The CW (0.67 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.2, #5) did the same with "One Tree Hill" (0.64 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.2, #11) and "Hellcats" (0.71 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.3, #10).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Glee (31.40%), Dancing With the Stars (28.60%), The Biggest Loser (10.70%), American Idol (-13.90% vs. 5/18/11), The Voice (-15.60%).

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," 2.5/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 5.0/11; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.4/7.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.1/5; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 1.7/6; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.9/5.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/5 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" (0.7/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/2).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 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 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (5/25/10):

FOX (15.54 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.7, #1) held off the competition on Tuesday thanks to new episodes of "American Idol" (19.60 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.6, #1) and "Glee" (11.49 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 4.8, #2).

NBC (8.60 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.4, #2) then could only muster second place despite the season finales of "The Biggest Loser" (9.88 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.8, #T3) and "Parenthood" (6.04 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.6, #7).

Next up was ABC (15.24 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.1, #3) with an encore of Monday's "Dancing With the Stars" (9.44 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.6, #9) followed by the two-hour season finale of "Dancing With the Stars" (18.18 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.8, #T3).

Meanwhile, CBS (13.20 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.6, #4) offered up its finales to "NCIS" (15.92 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.2, #5), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (13.12 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.7, #6) and "The Good Wife" (10.57 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.0, #8).

And finally, repeats of "Life Unexpected" (0.81 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.3, #10) and "90210" (0.55 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.2, #11) on The CW (0.68 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research