nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, september 27, 2011)

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

FOX (8.06 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.6, #1) was the network to beat once again on Tuesday with week two of "Glee" (8.34 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.6, #3), "New Girl" (9.26 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 4.4, #1) and "Raising Hope" (6.30 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.9, #5).

CBS (15.87 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.4, #2) again was the most-watched network with fresh installments of "NCIS" (19.18 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.2, #2), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (16.13 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.5, #4) and "Unforgettable" (12.29 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.5, #7).

Next up was ABC (10.93 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T3) with an encore of "Dancing With the Stars" (9.30 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.8, #11) followed by new episodes of "Dancing With the Stars" (14.05 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.8, #6) and "Body of Proof" (9.43 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.9, #10).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.69 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T3) offered up new episodes of "The Biggest Loser 12" (5.77 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T8) and "Parenthood" (5.52 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T8).

And finally, week three of "90210" (1.68 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.8, #13) and "Ringer" (2.01 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.9, #12) on The CW (1.84 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5) rounded out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "90210" delivered a 1.7 rating while "Ringer" posted a 1.3 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+14.29% - 90210
+4.76% - Parenthood
0.00% - NCIS
0.00% - Dancing With the Stars
0.00% - Ringer
-2.78% - NCIS: Los Angeles
-4.35% - The Biggest Loser 12
-5.26% - Glee
-6.38% - New Girl
-6.45% - Raising Hope
-13.79% - Unforgettable
-17.39% - Body of Proof

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+38.10% - Raising Hope (vs. Running Wilde)
+37.50% - New Girl (vs. Raising Hope)
+12.50% - Ringer (vs. Life Unexpected)
+10.00% - Parenthood
+5.00% - NCIS
0.00% - Unforgettable (vs. The Good Wife)
-5.41% - NCIS: Los Angeles
-11.11% - 90210 (vs. One Tree Hill)
-13.64% - Body of Proof (vs. Detroit 187)
-15.38% - The Biggest Loser
-24.32% - Dancing With the Stars
-37.93% - Glee

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," 2.6/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.8/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.5/8; 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," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 1.1/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/5 in metered-market households) tied CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.3/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/4 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (9/28/10):

FOX (9.68 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.2, #1) stayed in front on Tuesday thanks to week two of "Glee" (13.26 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 5.8, #1), "Raising Hope" (7.63 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.2, #5) and "Running Wilde" (4.74 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.1, #10).

Second place then went to CBS (16.03 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.4, #2) with new episodes of "NCIS" (18.74 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.0, #2), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (16.45 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.7, #T3) and the season premiere of "The Good Wife" (12.89 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.5, #8).

Next up was ABC (12.27 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #3) with the premiere of "No Ordinary Family" (10.54 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.1, #6) followed by new episodes of "Dancing With the Stars" (17.09 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.7, #T3) and "Detroit 187" (9.16 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.2, #9).

Meanwhile, NBC (6.37 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.5, #4) was stuck in fourth place with new episodes of "The Biggest Loser" (7.14 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.6, #7) and "Parenthood" (4.85 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.0, #11).

And finally, new episodes of "One Tree Hill" (1.82 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.9, #12) and "Life Unexpected" (1.57 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.8, #13) on The CW (1.70 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Life Unexpected (14.30%), NCIS: Los Angeles (8.80%), Glee (5.50%), Raising Hope (3.20%), NCIS (2.60%), One Tree Hill (0.00%), The Biggest Loser (-10.30%), Detroit 187 (-12.00%), Dancing With the Stars (-14.00%), Running Wilde (-16.00%), Parenthood (-20.00%).

In late-night metered market ratings, ABC's "Nightline" (3.3/8) took top honors over NBC's "Leno" (2.6/7) and CBS's "Letterman" (3.0/8). Rounding out the night then were "Kimmel" (1.6/5) on ABC "Ferguson" (1.5/5) on CBS and "Fallon" (1.3/5) and "Daly" (0.8/4) on NBC.

Source: Nielsen Media Research