nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for monday, january 23, 2012)

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

FOX (8.84 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.0, #1) moved to the top spot on Monday with the return of "House" (8.72 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.1, #1) and week two of "Alcatraz" (8.95 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.0, #2). "Alcatraz" is one of only three new dramas this season to post a 3.0 rating or more in its second week ("Terra Nova," "Once Upon a Time").

ABC (8.83 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.5, #2) then claimed the silver with fresh installments of "The Bachelor" (8.22 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.7, #4) and "Castle" (10.06 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.1, #8).

Next up was CBS (7.74 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3) with encores of "How I Met Your Mother" (6.97 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.3, #7), "2 Broke Girls" (7.80 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.6, #5), "Two and a Half Men" (9.77 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #3), "Mike & Molly" (8.32 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.4, #6) and "Hawaii Five-0" (6.79 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T10).

Meanwhile, NBC (6.89 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.7, #4) offered up the penultimate week of "Who's Still Standing?" (6.45 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.7, #9) and a two-hour debate edition of "Rock Center With Brian Williams" (7.11 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T10).

And finally, a new "Gossip Girl" (1.57 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T12) led into the return of "Hart of Dixie" (1.63 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T12) on The CW (1.60 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Gossip Girl" delivered a 1.3 rating while "Dixie" posted a 1.2 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+23.08% - Rock Center With Brian Williams
+19.23% - House (vs. 11/28/11)
+16.67% - Gossip Girl
+12.50% - The Bachelor
+6.25% - Who's Still Standing? (vs. 1/9/12)
-8.70% - Castle
-9.09% - Alcatraz
-12.50% - Hart of Dixie (vs. 12/5/11)

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+20.00% - Alcatraz (vs. Lie to Me)
-3.57% - The Bachelor
-12.50% - Castle
-12.50% - Gossip Girl (vs. 90210)
-13.51% - Rock Center With Brian Williams (vs. The Cape/Harry's Law)
-15.00% - Who's Still Standing? (vs. Chuck)
-16.22% - House
-22.22% - Hart of Dixie (vs. Gossip Girl)

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," 2.4/6 with an encore telecast; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.1/5 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.4/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.6/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.7/3 with an encore; "Late Show," 0.6/3 with an encore; "Nightline," 1.1/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.2/4 in metered-market households with an encore) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.0/4 with an encore). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49 with an encore) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/2 with an encore).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.7/3 with an encore in metered-market households and a 0.3/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters

Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/24/11):

FOX (9.05 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.1, #1) was the network to beat on Monday with a new "House" (10.44 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.7, #1) followed by an above average "Lie to Me" (7.66 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.5, #5).

ABC (9.16 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.7, #2) then had to settle for silver with fresh installments of "The Bachelor" (9.20 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.8, #3) and "Castle" (9.09 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.4, #6).

Next up was CBS (8.04 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3) with repeats of "How I Met Your Mother" (7.16 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.3, #7), "Rules of Engagement" (7.05 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.2, #8), "Two and a Half Men" (11.41 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.0, #2), "Mike & Molly" (9.51 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.6, #4) and "Hawaii Five-0" (6.55 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.7, #11).

Meanwhile, NBC (7.48 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.9, #4) offered up new episodes of "Chuck" (6.18 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.0, #10), "The Cape" (5.89 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.6, #12) and "Harry's Law" (10.37 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.1, #9).

And finally, the return of "90210" (1.70 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.8, #14) and "Gossip Girl" (1.59 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.9, #13) on The CW (1.65 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Lie to Me (38.90%), Castle (9.10% vs. 1/10/11), The Bachelor (3.70%), House (2.80%), Chuck (0.00%), Harry's Law (0.00%), The Cape (-11.10%), Gossip Girl (-18.20% vs. 12/6/10), 90210 (-20.00% vs. 12/6/10).

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," 3.3/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.1/5 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.2/7; 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," 0.8/4; "Late Show," 0.6/4 with an encore; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/5 in metered-market households with an encore) beat CBS's first-run "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49 with an encore) 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 with an encore and a 0.3/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research