nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, january 31, 2012)

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

FOX (7.50 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #1) snagged the top spot among adults 18-49 thanks to new episodes of "Glee" (9.02 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.6, #1), "New Girl" (7.24 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.5, #2) and "Raising Hope" (4.69 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T3).

CBS (10.62 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #2) then remained the most-watched network despite its all-repeat lineup of "NCIS" (12.90 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.0, #5), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (11.10 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T7) and "Unforgettable" (7.85 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #10).

Next up was ABC (5.54 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T3) with repeats of "Last Man Standing" (5.61 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.5, #9), another "Last Man Standing" (5.71 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T7) and "Body of Proof" (5.42 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.1, #11) bookending the season finale of "Celebrity Wife Swap" (5.56 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.9, #6).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.83 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T3) offered up a new "The Biggest Loser 13" (6.06 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T3) and a repeat of "Parenthood" (2.38 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T12).

And finally, a new "90210" (1.43 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T12) led into the return of "Ringer" (1.38 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.6, #14) on The CW (1.40 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "90210" delivered a 1.1 rating while "Ringer" posted a 0.7 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+20.00% - Glee (vs. 1/17/12)
+2.94% - New Girl (vs. 1/17/12)
0.00% - The Biggest Loser 13
0.00% - 90210
0.00% - Ringer (vs. 11/29/11)
-8.70% - Raising Hope (vs. 1/17/12)
-9.52% - Celebrity Wife Swap (vs. 1/17/12)

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+111.76% - Glee (vs. Glee (Repeat))
+94.44% - New Girl (vs. Million Dollar Money Drop)
+16.67% - Raising Hope (vs. Million Dollar Money Drop)
+11.76% - Celebrity Wife Swap (vs. V)
-25.00% - Ringer (vs. Hellcats)
-36.36% - The Biggest Loser 13
-41.67% - 90210 (vs. One Tree Hill)

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," 2.9/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.6/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.1/8; 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," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.6/3; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "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) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 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 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (2/1/11):

CBS (17.53 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.5, #1) was Tuesday's top draw thanks to new episodes of "NCIS" (22.70 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.6, #1), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (17.76 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.8, #2) and "The Good Wife" (12.13 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T4).

NBC (8.18 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #2) then took home the silver with fresh installments of "The Biggest Loser" (9.17 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.3, #3) and "Parenthood" (6.20 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T4).

Next up was FOX (5.02 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.7, #3) with a repeat of "Glee" (4.93 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T7) followed by the season finale of "Million Dollar Money Drop" (5.10 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.8, #6).

Meanwhile over on ABC (4.96 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #4), a repeat of "No Ordinary Family" (4.19 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.1, #11) led into new episodes of "V" (5.23 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T7) and "Detroit 187" (5.44 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T9).

And finally, an above-average "One Tree Hill" (2.37 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T9) and a new "Hellcats" (1.91 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.8, #12) on The CW (2.14 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): One Tree Hill (33.30%), NCIS: Los Angeles (15.20% vs. 1/18/11), NCIS (12.20% vs. 1/18/11), The Biggest Loser (10.00%), Detroit 187 (9.10% vs. 1/11/11), Parenthood (4.80% vs. 1/18/11), The Good Wife (4.80% vs. 1/18/11), Million Dollar Money Drop (-5.30% vs. 1/18/11), Hellcats (-11.10%), V (-15.00% vs. 1/18/11).

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

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets (with the Dayton market excluded today), household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 3.1/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 3.3/8; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.9/9; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.8/5.

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," 1.6/6; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.7/4.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/5 in metered-market households) trailed CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.6/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/3 in 18-49) tied "Late Late Show" (0.6/3).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.0/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research