nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, january 7, 2012)

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

NBC (27.87 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 10.0, #1) dominated primetime on Saturday thanks to its coverage of the "NFL Wild Card Playoff: Detroit at New Orleans" (27.87 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 10.0, #1).

ABC (4.79 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2) then took home a distant silver with a repeat of "Winter Wipeout" (3.56 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5) followed by "Your Voice, Your Vote - Republican Presidential Debate in New Hampshire" (5.41 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2).

Next up was CBS (3.49 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T3) with a full hour of "Rules of Engagement" (1.98 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.5, #7) repeats, a repeat of "The Mentalist" (3.66 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #6) and a new "48 Hours Mystery" (4.83 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T3).

And finally, an hour of "Cops" (3.15 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T3) and a repeat of "Terra Nova" (1.36 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #8) on FOX (2.26 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T3) closed out the evening.

In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release):

"Saturday Night Live" (7.4/18 in metered-market households from 11:45 p.m.-1:15 a.m.) with host Charles Barkley and musical guest Kelly Clarkson, dominated its time period with the highest "SNL" average in local-market households in the past 52 weeks, since the January 8, 2011 edition hosted by Jim Carrey with musical guest The Black Keys (7.8/18).

Note that "Saturday Night Live" was delayed by the overrun of the Lions-Saints NFL Wild Card Playoff Game.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 4.3 rating, 18 share in adults 18-49, its highest 18-49 rating in the Local People Meters since the "SNL" season finale on May 21, 2011 (with host Justin Timberlake and musical guest Lady Gaga, 4.5/18).

[NOTE: Today's numbers are courtesy of TVMediaInsights.com due to delays from our usual sources.]

Here are the highlights of the seven ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/8/11):

NBC (28.82 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 10.2, #1) got a huge spark from the "AFC Wild Card Playoff: New York at Indianapolis" (28.82 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 10.2, #1) last night.

CBS (5.02 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2) then laid claim to the leftovers with repeats of "Blue Bloods" (4.27 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T6) and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (5.49 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #3) followed by a new "48 Hours Mystery" (5.31 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #4).

Next up was ABC (2.66 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2) with encores of "Wipeout" (4.09 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.2, #2) and "The Bachelor" (1.94 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T6).

And finally, the original movie "Change of Plans" (2.96 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5) on FOX (2.96 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) rounded out the evening.

And in late-night, a new Jim Carrey-hosted "Saturday Night Live" averaged a monster 7.8 household rating, 18 share in the metered markets, the show's best numbers since Betty White's episode on May 8, 2010 (8.8/21).

Source: Nielsen Media Research