nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, february 21, 2012)

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

CBS (15.33 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.9, #1) edged out FOX (6.47 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #2) among adults 18-49 last night thanks to new episodes of "NCIS" (19.55 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.8, #1), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (15.89 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #T3) and "Unforgettable" (10.56 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.9, #8).

FOX then offered up the winter finale of "Glee" (7.40 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.9, #T3) followed by a new "New Girl" (6.25 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.0, #2) and the 8:00/7:00c bound "Raising Hope" (4.85 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T6).

Next up was NBC (6.08 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.1, #3) with new episodes of "The Biggest Loser 13" (6.66 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.3, #5) and "Parenthood" (4.91 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T9).

Meanwhile, ABC (5.76 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.7, #4) offered up its mix of "Last Man Standing" (7.46 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T6), "Cougar Town" (4.45 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T9), "The River" (4.78 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T9) and "Body of Proof" (6.54 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.4, #12).

And finally on The CW (1.24 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5), a repeat of "Hart of Dixie" (1.06 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.4, #14) led into a new "Ringer" (1.41 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.5, #13). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Dixie" delivered a 0.5 rating while "Ringer" posted a 0.6 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+66.67% - Ringer
+16.67% - Body of Proof
+15.00% - The Biggest Loser 13
+6.25% - Parenthood
+4.76% - Raising Hope
+3.57% - Glee
0.00% - Last Man Standing
0.00% - The River
-2.56% - NCIS
-5.56% - Cougar Town
-6.25% - New Girl
-9.38% - NCIS: Los Angeles
-17.39% - Unforgettable

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+57.14% - Last Man Standing
+29.41% - Raising Hope
+21.43% - Cougar Town
+20.00% - New Girl
0.00% - Body of Proof
0.00% - Unforgettable
-10.53% - The River
-13.64% - NCIS
-14.81% - The Biggest Loser 13
-16.67% - Ringer
-19.05% - Parenthood
-25.64% - NCIS: Los Angeles
-32.56% - Glee

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," 2.6/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.8/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.2/8; 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," 0.6/3; "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" (0.5/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/2).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 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 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (2/22/11):

CBS (17.12 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.4, #1) took home both the viewership and adults 18-49 crowns on Tuesday with new episodes of "NCIS" (21.28 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.4, #1), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (18.58 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.9, #3) and "The Good Wife" (11.51 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T7).

FOX (7.83 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #2) then had to settle for second place with its mix of "Glee" (10.50 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.3, #2), "Raising Hope" (6.21 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.5, #5) and "Traffic Light" (4.10 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.7, #9).

Next up was NBC (6.83 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.5, #3) and its combination of "The Biggest Loser" (7.50 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.7, #4) and "Parenthood" (5.50 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.1, #6).

Meanwhile, ABC (4.69 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #4) offered up new episodes of "No Ordinary Family" (4.77 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T10), "V" (5.14 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T7) and a special "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (4.16 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T10).

And finally, new episodes of "One Tree Hill" (1.99 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.9, #12) and "Hellcats" (1.65 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.6, #13) on The CW (1.82 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): NCIS (18.90%), NCIS: Los Angeles (18.20%), Raising Hope (13.60%), Traffic Light (13.30%), One Tree Hill (12.50%), Parenthood (10.50%), Glee (2.40%), The Biggest Loser (0.00%), V (0.00%), The Good Wife (-5.00%), No Ordinary Family (-6.70%), Hellcats (-14.30%).

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," 2.8/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.9/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.8/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.3/4.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.0/4; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 0.8/4; 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" (0.4/3).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/4 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