nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for monday, february 27, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

FOX (13.94 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.5, #1) surged into the top spot on Monday with its primetime coverage of "NASCAR: Dayton 500" (13.94 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.5, #2).

NBC (12.13 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.4, #2) then had to settle for second place with new episodes of "The Voice" (14.77 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.4, #1) and "Smash" (6.86 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.4, #9).

Next up was CBS (10.01 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.1, #3) with its mix of "How I Met Your Mother" (9.13 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.6, #T4), "2 Broke Girls" (10.14 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.7, #3), "Two and a Half Men" (11.81 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.6, #T4), "Mike & Molly" (10.10 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.9, #6) and "Hawaii Five-0" (9.45 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T7).

Meanwhile, ABC (8.34 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.4, #4) offered up original installments of "The Bachelor" (7.98 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.6, #T7) and "Castle" (9.06 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.2, #10).

And finally, new episodes of "Gossip Girl" (1.17 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.5, #11) and "Hart of Dixie" (1.40 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.5, #12) on The CW (1.28 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) closed out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+4.76% - Castle
+4.35% - Smash
+3.00% - The Bachelor
0.00% - Gossip Girl
-5.26% - How I Met Your Mother
-6.90% - The Voice
-7.50% - 2 Broke Girls
-10.71% - Hawaii Five-0
-12.20% - Two and a Half Men
-14.71% - Mike & Molly
-16.67% - Hart of Dixie

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+285.71% - The Voice (vs. Chuck/The Cape)
+52.54% - NASCAR: Dayton 500 (vs. House/The Chicago Code)
+37.04% - 2 Broke Girls (vs. Mad Love)
+33.33% - Smash (vs. Harry's Law)
+31.58% - Hawaii Five-0
+12.50% - Two and a Half Men
+5.88% - How I Met Your Mother
-14.71% - Mike & Molly
-21.43% - Castle
-24.26% - The Bachelor
-28.57% - Gossip Girl (vs. 90210)
-28.57% - Hart of Dixie (vs. Gossip Girl)

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," 2.4/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.3/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/4.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 1.1/5; 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" (0.4/2).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 with an encore in metered-market households and a 0.3/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters

[NOTE: Today's numbers are courtesy of TVMediaInsights.com due to delays from our usual sources.]

Here are the highlights of the 17 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (2/28/11):

ABC (10.59 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.2, #1) clinged to the top spot on Monday with new episodes of "The Bachelor" (11.21 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.4, #T2) and "Castle" (10.15 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.8, #6).

FOX (9.52 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #2) then snagged a competitive silver with fresh installments of "House" (10.97 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.8, #1) and "The Chicago Code" (8.07 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.1, #8).

Meanwhile, CBS (9.11 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.8, #2) offered up its mix of "How I Met Your Mother" (9.27 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.4, #T2), "Mad Love" (7.96 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.7, #7), a repeat of "Two and a Half Men" (11.57 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.2, #5), "Mike & Molly" (11.42 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.4, #T2) and a repeat of "Hawaii Five-0" (7.23 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.9, #9).

Next up was NBC (6.19 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #4) with new episodes of "Chuck" (5.35 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.7, #11), the departing "The Cape" (4.06 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.1, #12) and "Harry's Law" (9.15 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.8, #10).

And finally, new episodes of "90210" (1.44 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T13) and "Gossip Girl" (1.38 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T13) on The CW (1.41 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): House (8.60%), Castle (7.70%), Mike & Molly (6.30%), Harry's Law (5.90%), The Bachelor (0.00%), The Chicago Code (0.00%), Chuck (0.00%), 90210 (0.00%), Mad Love (-3.60%), How I Met Your Mother (-5.60%), The Cape (-8.30%), Gossip Girl (-12.50%).

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," 3.0/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.6/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.3/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.6/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.8/3; "Nightline," 1.1/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/5 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 0.8/3 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.3/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research