nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, january 21, 2012)

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

ABC (3.50 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T1) and NBC (4.40 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T1) split the demo crown on Saturday with the latter serving up encores of "Betty White's 90th Birthday: A Tribute to America's Golden Girl" (4.88 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #6), "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" (4.78 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #3) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.47 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.9, #7).

The Alphabet then went with repeats of the feature "Over the Hedge" (3.44 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T4) and "Castle" (3.61 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T8).

Next up was FOX (2.71 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #3) with new episodes of "Cops" (3.72 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.3, #2), another "Cops" (4.37 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #1) and a repeat of "Terra Nova" (1.38 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.4, #11).

And finally, repeats of "NCIS: Los Angeles" (3.82 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.5, #10), "48 Hours Mystery" (4.22 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T8) and a new "48 Hours Mystery" (5.29 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T4) on CBS (4.44 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4) closed out the night.

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

An encore telecast of "Saturday Night Live" (3.9/10 in metered-market households) with host Emma Stone and musical guest Coldplay, scored the show's highest rating for an encore in nearly nine months, since the April 30, 2011 telecast hosted by Dana Carvey with musical guest Linkin Park (3.9/10). The last time an "SNL" rebroadcast topped last night's 3.9 was one year ago, on January 22, 2011, with host Robert De Niro and musical guest Diddy Dirty Money (4.0/10). This week's "SNL" dominated its time period and tied for the highest rating of the night in metered-market households with CBS's "48 Hours" (3.9/7) and ahead of all other Saturday primetime telecasts on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 2.0 rating, 9 share in adults 18-49, matching the show's highest LPM rating for an encore in nearly 11 months, since the February 26, 2011 telecast hosted by Anne Hathaway with musical guest Florence + The Machine (2.3/10). In the Local People Meters, "SNL" ranked #1 among the night's telecasts ahead of all Saturday primetime programs on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.

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

Here are the highlights of the 10 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/22/11):

FOX (4.94 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.7, #1) was the demo king once again on Saturday with its usual combination of "Cops" (4.73 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T1) and "America's Most Wanted" (5.16 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T1).

CBS (5.27 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T2) then was the most-watched network with its mix of "CSI: Miami" (4.60 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.7, #8), "The Mentalist" (5.10 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T6) and a new "48 Hours Mystery" (6.12 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T3).

Next up was ABC (3.10 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T2) with encores of "Wipeout" (4.04 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T3) and "Blades of Glory" (2.62 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T6).

And finally, repeats of "Harry's Law" (4.05 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T9), "Law & Order: Los Angeles" (3.80 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T9) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.10 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #5) on NBC (4.32 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) closed out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research