nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for monday, january 30, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

FOX (8.49 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.8, #1) was the network to beat on Monday with new episodes of "House" (8.64 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #2) and "Alcatraz" (8.34 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.7, #T3).

CBS (8.05 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.3, #2) then claimed the silver with its all-repeat lineup of "How I Met Your Mother" (7.27 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.4, #6), "2 Broke Girls" (7.81 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.7, #T3), "Two and a Half Men" (10.05 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.0, #1), "Mike & Molly" (8.47 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #7) and "Hawaii Five-0" (7.34 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T8).

Next up was ABC (7.62 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3) with a new "The Bachelor" (8.08 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.6, #5) followed by a repeat of "Castle" (6.71 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.4, #11).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.62 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #4) served up its mix of the season finale of "Who's Still Standing?" (6.61 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T8), a repeat of "Fear Factor" (3.97 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.5, #10) and the Wednesday-bound "Rock Center With Brian Williams" (3.27 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.8, #12).

And finally, the 100th episodes of "Gossip Girl" (1.37 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.7, #13) and a new "Hart of Dixie" (1.49 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.6, #14) on The CW (1.43 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5) closed out the night. 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):
0.00% - Who's Still Standing?
0.00% - Gossip Girl
-3.70% - The Bachelor
-9.68% - House
-10.00% - Alcatraz
-14.29% - Hart of Dixie
-50.00% - Rock Center With Brian Williams

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+33.33% - House (vs. Human Target)
+22.73% - Alcatraz (vs. Lie to Me)
0.00% - Who's Still Standing? (vs. Chuck)
-12.50% - Gossip Girl (vs. 90210)
-18.75% - The Bachelor
-25.00% - Hart of Dixie (vs. Gossip Girl)
-61.90% - Rock Center With Brian Williams (vs. Harry's Law)

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," 2.6/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.1/7; 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; "Late Show," 0.6/3; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.4/2.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3.4 in metered-market households) tied CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.3/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.4/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 with an encore in metered-market households and a 0.3/3 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 (1/31/11):

ABC (8.42 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.7, #1) was Monday's top draw thanks to a new "The Bachelor" (9.50 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.2, #1) and a repeat of "Castle" (6.27 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T10).

CBS (8.15 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #2) then claimed the silver with its all-repeat lineup of "How I Met Your Mother" (7.38 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T3), "Rules of Engagement" (7.45 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T3), "Two and a Half Men" (11.21 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.1, #2), "Mike & Molly" (9.13 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.4, #5) and "Hawaii Five-0" (6.87 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.8, #9).

Next up was FOX (7.43 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3) with a special "Human Target" (7.81 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T7) followed by the season finale of "Lie to Me" (7.05 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.2, #6).

Meanwhile, NBC (7.24 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #4) offered up its combination of "Chuck" (5.56 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T10), "The Cape" (5.30 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.5, #12) and "Harry's Law" (10.86 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T7).

And finally, new episodes of "90210" (1.75 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T13) and "Gossip Girl" (1.50 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T13) on The CW (1.63 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5) closed out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Human Target (75.00% vs. 1/14/11), The Bachelor (14.30%), 90210 (0.00%), Harry's Law (0.00%), The Cape (-6.30%), Gossip Girl (-11.10%), Lie to Me (-12.00%), Chuck (-15.00%).

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," 3.6/9; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 3.2/8; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.7/8; 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," 1.1/5; "Late Show," 1.0/4; "Nightline," 1.3/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/5 in metered-market households) tied CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.5/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49) tied "Late Late Show" (0.5/3).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 in metered-market households and a 0.3/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research