nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for thursday, january 26, 2012)

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

FOX (12.75 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.1, #1) held onto the top spot on Thursday with new episodes of "American Idol" (16.99 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.4, #T1) and "The Finder" (8.51 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.9, #4), which hit a series high.

CBS (11.27 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #2) then claimed the silver with fresh installments of "The Big Bang Theory" (15.96 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 5.4, #T1) and "Rob" (11.58 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.5, #3) followed by repeats of "Person of Interest" (10.48 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.1, #5) and "The Mentalist" (9.56 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T6).

Next up was NBC (3.65 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #3) with its mix of "30 Rock" (3.84 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.6, #9), "Parks & Recreation" (3.48 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.7, #8), a second "30 Rock" (4.00 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T6), "Up All Night" (3.03 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.4, #11) and "The Firm" (3.77 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.0, #13).

Meanwhile, ABC (3.88 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4) offered up encores of "Winter Wipeout" (4.86 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.5, #10), "Grey's Anatomy" (3.99 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.3, #12) and "Private Practice" (2.79 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.9, #14).

And finally, the feature "The Covenant" (1.31 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.5, #15) on The CW (1.31 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) closed out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), the film delivered a 0.5 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+31.82% - The Finder
+11.11% - The Firm
+3.85% - The Big Bang Theory
0.00% - 30 Rock - 8:00
-2.78% - Rob
-3.57% - American Idol
-15.00% - Parks & Recreation

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+125.00% - The Big Bang Theory (vs. The Big Bang Theory (Repeat))
+52.17% - Rob (vs. Bleep My Dad Says)
0.00% - Parks & Recreation (vs. Perfect Couples)
-25.64% - The Finder (vs. Bones)
-27.27% - 30 Rock - 8:00 (vs. Community)
-28.95% - American Idol
-52.50% - 30 Rock - 9:00 (vs. The Office)
-53.49% - The Firm (vs. 30 Rock/Outsourced)

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," 2.4/6 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.0/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.4/4.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/4 with an encore; "Late Show," 0.7/3 with an encore; "Nightline," 0.9/4; 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) tied CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/4 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 0.8/3 with an encore 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 17 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/27/11):

FOX (17.21 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.8, #1) was Thursday's top draw thanks to new episodes of "American Idol" (22.27 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.6, #1) and "Bones" (12.15 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.9, #3). Said installment marked "Bones's" highest rated 18-49 telecast in almost four years (since 2/14/07) and in almost one year in total viewers (since 2/4/10).

NBC (5.17 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.5, #2) then claimed the silver week two of its lineup of "Community" (4.64 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.2, #9), "Perfect Couples" (3.53 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.7, #13), "The Office" (7.93 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 4.0, #2), "Parks & Recreation" (5.88 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 3.0, #4), "30 Rock" (4.92 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T5) and "Outsourced" (4.15 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T11).

Next up was CBS (9.61 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.1, #3) and its mostly repeat mix of "The Big Bang Theory" (9.19 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T5), "Bleep My Dad Says" (8.86 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.3, #8), "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (9.67 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.1, #10) and "The Mentalist" (10.12 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T11). "Bleep," the only original of the bunch, hit a series low in the key demo.

Meanwhile, ABC (5.18 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) offered up a new "Wipeout" (7.61 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T5) followed by repeats of "Grey's Anatomy" (4.50 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.5, #15) and "Private Practice" (3.44 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 1.0, #17).

And finally, the return of "The Vampire Diaries" (3.46 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.6, #14) and "Nikita" (2.65 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 1.1, #16) on The CW (3.06 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.3, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Nikita (37.50% vs. 12/9/10), The Vampire Diaries (23.10% vs. 12/9/10), Bones (8.30%), Outsourced (5.60%), Community (0.00%), American Idol (-2.60%), Parks & Recreation (-6.30%), Wipeout (-7.70%), The Office (-11.10%), 30 Rock (-11.10%), Bleep My Dad Says (-14.80%), Perfect Couples (-19.00%).

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," 2.7/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.7/7 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.9/7; 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," 0.8/4 with an encore; "Nightline," 0.9/4; 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) trailed CBS's first-run "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.4/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.4/3 in 18-49 with an encore) trailed "Late Late Show" (0.5/3).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.7/3 in metered-/3market households with an encore and a 0.2/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research