nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, may 25, 2011)

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

FOX (28.16 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 8.9, #1) closed the 2010-11 season on top with the season finale of "American Idol" (28.16 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 8.9, #1). Compared with last year's finale, "Idol" was up 9% in the demo and up +17% in total viewers (versus final numbers).

ABC (6.33 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #2) then won the battle for the leftovers with the season finale of "The Middle" (7.43 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3), a repeat of "Modern Family" (6.05 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.9, #6) and the respective season enders to "Modern Family" (10.22 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.1, #2), "Cougar Town" (5.10 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T4) and "Happy Endings" (4.06 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T7).

Next up was CBS (6.66 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.7, #3) with repeats of "The Big Bang Theory" (5.81 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.5, #10), another "The Big Bang Theory" (6.20 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T7) and "Criminal Minds" (6.45 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.6, #9) alongside the de facto series finale of "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" (7.52 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T4).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.20 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4) offered up its mix of "Minute to Win It" (3.44 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.0, #13), another "Minute to Win It" (3.59 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.1, #12) and a special "Law & Order: Los Angeles" (5.58 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.4, #11).

And finally, repeats of "America's Next Top Model" (1.08 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T14) and another "America's Next Top Model" (1.02 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T14) on The CW (1.05 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): American Idol (43.50% vs. 5/19/11), Happy Endings (30.80%), Modern Family (2.50%), Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (0.00%), Cougar Town (0.00%), Law & Order: Los Angeles (0.00% vs. 5/23/11), Minute to Win It (0.00%), The Middle (-8.30%).

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," 2.7/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.0/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.0/4; "Late Show," 0.6/3; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

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" (1.4/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.7/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3).

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 10 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (5/26/10):

The two-hour season finale of "American Idol" (23.15 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.8, #1) was of course Wednesday's top draw, helping FOX (23.15 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.8, #1) wrap the 2009-10 season on top.

CBS (10.28 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #2) then claimed the silver with a repeat of "Undercover Boss" (6.13 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #5) followed by the season finales of "Criminal Minds" (12.81 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.1, #2) and "CSI: NY" (11.90 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.7, #3).

Next up was ABC (4.81 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.8, #3) with the network premiere of "Transformers" (4.81 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.8, #4).

Meanwhile, NBC (3.27 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #4) offered up its all-repeat lineup of "Minute to Win It" (3.29 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.9, #7), another "Minute to Win It" (2.64 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.8, #8) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.86 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #6).

And finally, repeats of "America's Next Top Model" (1.44 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.6, #9) and another "America's Next Top Model" (1.31 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.5, #10) on The CW (1.37 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research