nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for thursday, february 23, 2012)

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

FOX (10.81 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #T1) and CBS (13.65 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.2, #T1) posted a rare split among adults 18-49 on Thursday as the former offered up new episodes of "American Idol" (15.39 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.4, #2) and "The Finder" (6.22 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.0, #9).

The latter then served up its mix of "The Big Bang Theory" (16.11 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.2, #1), "Rob" (10.63 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.0, #5), "Person of Interest" (14.41 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T3) and "The Mentalist" (13.18 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.5, #7).

Next up ABC (6.77 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #3) with the season finale of "Winter Wipeout" (4.99 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T12) followed by new episodes of "Grey's Anatomy" (8.91 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.1, #T3) and "Private Practice" (6.41 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.2, #8).

Meanwhile, NBC (3.33 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) was out of the hunt with its combination of "30 Rock" (3.71 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T12), "Parks & Recreation" (3.42 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.7, #11), "The Office" (4.98 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.6, #6), "Up All Night" (3.45 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.8, #10) and a repeat of "Grimm" (2.22 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.9, #14).

And finally, encores of "The Vampire Diaries" (1.29 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.5, #15) and "Supernatural" (0.91 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.3, #16) on The CW (1.10 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) closed out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Diaries" posted a 0.3 rating while "Supernatural" delivered a 0.2 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+20.00% - Up All Night
+18.18% - The Office
+7.14% - 30 Rock
+6.90% - Person of Interest
+4.00% - The Big Bang Theory
0.00% - Grey's Anatomy
0.00% - Parks & Recreation
0.00% - Winter Wipeout
-6.25% - Rob
-10.71% - The Mentalist
-12.00% - American Idol
-13.04% - The Finder (vs. 2/9/12)
-15.38% - Private Practice

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+36.84% - The Big Bang Theory (vs. The Big Bang Theory)
+21.43% - Parks & Recreation (vs. Perfect Couples)
+14.81% - Person of Interest (vs. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation)
+7.14% - Rob (vs. Rules of Engagement)
-6.06% - Grey's Anatomy
-8.33% - Private Practice
-10.71% - The Mentalist
-16.67% - 30 Rock (vs. Community)
-21.21% - The Office
-25.00% - Up All Night (vs. Parks & Recreation)
-31.82% - Winter Wipeout
-38.89% - American Idol
-72.22% - The Finder (vs. American Idol)

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," 2.5/6; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.7/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.9/7; 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," 0.7/4; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

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" (1.3/5). 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 0.8/4 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 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (2/24/11):

FOX (21.58 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.2, #1) was once the ratings king on Thursday with an expanded two-hour edition of "American Idol" (21.58 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.2, #1).

CBS (12.74 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #2) had to settle for the silver with its new lineup of "The Big Bang Theory" (12.51 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.8, #2). "Rules of Engagement" (9.63 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.8, #T5), "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (12.48 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.7, #7) and "The Mentalist" (14.67 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #T5).

Next up was ABC (7.63 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.6, #3) with fresh installments of "Wipeout" (7.09 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.2, #11), "Grey's Anatomy" (9.09 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.3, #T3) and "Private Practice" (6.70 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T8).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.27 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.1, #4) offered up its mix of "Community" (3.91 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.8, #12), "Perfect Couples" (2.96 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.4, #14), "The Office" (6.20 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 3.3, #T3), "Parks & Recreation" (4.65 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T8), "30 Rock" (4.51 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.3, #10) and "Outsourced" (3.39 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.5, #13).

And finally, in their last episodes until April 7, The CW (2.46 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5) offered up new episodes of "The Vampire Diaries" (2.94 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.3, #15) and "Nikita" (1.99 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.8, #16).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Wipeout (15.80%), 30 Rock (15.00%), Parks & Recreation (4.30%), The Big Bang Theory (2.70%), The Office (0.00%), Private Practice (0.00%), Community (0.00%), Outsourced (0.00%), Perfect Couples (0.00%), Nikita (0.00%), American Idol (-4.00%), The Mentalist (-6.70%), CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (-6.90%), The Vampire Diaries (-7.10%), Grey's Anatomy (-10.80%), Rules of Engagement (-12.50%).

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

Nielsen's 56 metered markets (with four markets excluded today), household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 2.7/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 3.3/8; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.2/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.6/5 with an encore.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.0/4; "Late Show," 0.9/4; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3 with an encore.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/4 in metered-market households) trailed CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.5/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.7/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/2).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.7/3 in metered-market households and a 0.3/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research