nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for monday, february 6, 2012)

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

NBC (15.62 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.7, #1) surged to the top spot on Monday with the time period debut of "The Voice" (17.69 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.6, #1) followed by the premiere of "Smash" (11.50 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.8, #5).

Among "The Voice's" accolades: achieved NBC's highest 18-49 rating in slot excluding Olympics since Feb. 16, 2004 and biggest overall audience in the time period, excluding Olympics, since January 15, 2007; delivered NBC's highest rating for a regular in-season entertainment telecast in over four years (since "Heroes" on September 24, 2007) in adults 18-49, excluding specials and the post-Super Bowl "Voice" of the night before.

Meanwhile, "Smash" scored the highest 18-49 rating for any episode of a regular 10 p.m. drama on ABC, CBS or NBC on any night of the week so far this season; and delivered NBC's top in-season 18-49 and total-viewer results in the time period since November 3, 2008 ("SNL" election special).

CBS (10.82 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.5, #2) then had to settle for second place with new episodes of "How I Met Your Mother" (9.99 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 4.0, #4), "2 Broke Girls" (11.42 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.3, #2), "Two and a Half Men" (12.90 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.2, #3), "Mike & Molly" (11.02 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.4, #6) and "Hawaii Five-0" (9.80 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.7, #7).

Next up was ABC (8.40 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #3) with fresh installments of "The Bachelor" (8.24 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.6, #8) and "Castle" (8.72 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.0, #11).

Meanwhile, FOX (6.97 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.3, #4) offered up new episodes of "House" (7.16 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.4, #9) and "Alcatraz" (6.78 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.2, #10).

And finally, new episodes of "Gossip Girl" (1.28 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T12) and "Hart of Dixie" (1.50 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T12) on The CW (1.39 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Gossip Girl" delivered a 1.2 rating while "Dixie" posted a 1.2 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - The Bachelor
0.00% - Hart of Dixie
-3.57% - Hawaii Five-0 (vs. 1/16/12)
-4.44% - 2 Broke Girls (vs. 1/16/12)
-4.76% - Castle (vs. 1/23/12)
-8.70% - Two and a Half Men (vs. 1/16/12)
-9.09% - How I Met Your Mother (vs. 1/16/12)
-10.53% - Mike & Molly (vs. 1/16/12)
-14.29% - House
-14.29% - Gossip Girl
-18.52% - Alcatraz

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+340.00% - The Voice (vs. Chuck/The Cape)
+123.53% - Smash (vs. Harry's Law)
+34.38% - 2 Broke Girls (vs. Rules of Engagement)
+5.26% - How I Met Your Mother
-3.57% - Hawaii Five-0
-4.55% - Two and a Half Men
-5.56% - Mike & Molly
-8.33% - Alcatraz (vs. The Chicago Code)
-16.13% - The Bachelor
-20.00% - Castle
-25.00% - Hart of Dixie (vs. Gossip Girl)
-33.33% - Gossip Girl (vs. 90210)
-44.19% - House

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," 3.5/9; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.9/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.2.8; 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," 1.2/6; "Late Show," 0.8/4; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.9/7 in metered-market households with an encore) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.8/5 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 1.2/5 with an encore in metered-market households and a 0.5/4 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 (2/7/11):

CBS (11.53 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.5, #1) claimed top honors on Monday with its usual mix of "How I Met Your Mother" (10.11 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.8, #3), "Rules of Engagement" (9.48 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.2, #5), "Two and a Half Men" (15.13 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.4, #1), "Mike & Molly" (12.74 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.6, #4) and "Hawaii Five-0" (10.86 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.8, #7).

FOX (10.86 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.4, #2) then took home the silver with a new "House" (12.32 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.3, #2) followed by the launch of "The Chicago Code" (9.40 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.4, #9). The new drama combo gave FOX its highest non-sports Monday night so far this season among adults 18-49 and total viewers.

Next up was ABC (9.58 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.9, #3) with its mix of "The Bachelor" (9.74 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.1, #6) and "Castle" (9.26 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.5, #8).

Meanwhile, NBC (6.37 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) offered up new episodes of "Chuck" (5.42 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T10), "The Cape" (4.56 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.3, #12) and "Harry's Law" (9.14 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T10). Said numbers marked series lows for "The Cape" and "Harry's Law." Nevertheless, in its four weeks on the air, "Harry's Law" has earned NBC's four best 18-49 ratings in the time period since November 1, 2010 and attracted the network's four biggest overall audiences in the slot, excluding Olympics, in 16 months.

And finally, The CW (1.71 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5) did the same with "90210" (1.78 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.9, #13) and "Gossip Girl" (1.63 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.8, #14).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): House (16.20% vs. 1/24/11), 90210 (12.50%), Castle (4.20% vs. 1/24/11), Gossip Girl (0.00%), Chuck (0.00%), Rules of Engagement (0.00% vs. 1/17/11), How I Met Your Mother (-2.60% vs. 1/17/11), The Bachelor (-3.10%), Hawaii Five-0 (-3.40% vs. 1/17/11), Two and a Half Men (-4.30% vs. 1/17/11), Mike & Molly (-5.30% vs. 1/17/11), The Cape (-13.30%), Harry's Law (-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," 3.2/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 3.1/8; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.0/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.4/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.0/5; "Late Show," 0.9/4; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/5 in metered-market households) tied CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.4/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "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 with an encore and a 0.3/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research