nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for thursday, april 5, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

FOX (10.62 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #1) clinged to the demo crown on Thursday with fresh installments of "American Idol" (13.79 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.8, #2) - its Thursday low this season - and "Touch" (7.45 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.3, #7) - a series low.

CBS (12.28 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.9, #2) then snagged a close second place with new episodes of "The Big Bang Theory" (13.01 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.2, #1) - a season low, "Rules of Engagement" (8.79 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.7, #5) - tied for its season low, "Person of Interest" (13.47 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #3) and "The Mentalist" (12.48 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.4, #6) - ties as its series low with regular telecasts.

Next up was ABC (7.56 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.1, #3) with originals of "Missing" (7.16 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.4, #9) - tied as its season low - and "Grey's Anatomy" (8.08 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.8, #4) - its season low - plus the premiere of "Scandal" (7.45 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.1, #8).

Meanwhile, NBC (2.69 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4) offered up its mix of "Community" (3.10 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.3, #10) - its series low, "30 Rock" (2.82 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.2, #11) - likewise its series low, a repeat "The Office" (2.55 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.0, #13), "Up All Night" (2.62 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.1, #12) - again, its series low - and "Awake" (2.54 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.9, #14) - its lowest rated telecast to date.

And finally, rebroadcasts of "The Vampire Diaries" (1.11 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T15) and "The Secret Circle" (0.82 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T15) on The CW (0.96 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Diaries" posted a 0.5 rating while "Circle" delivered a 0.5 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - Missing
-3.57% - Rules of Engagement
-6.67% - The Big Bang Theory
-6.67% - Grey's Anatomy (vs. 3/15/12)
-9.52% - American Idol
-10.00% - Awake
-11.11% - The Mentalist
-12.12% - Person of Interest
-15.38% - Up All Night
-17.86% - Touch
-20.00% - 30 Rock
-23.53% - Community

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+162.50% - Scandal (vs. Private Practice (Repeat))
+115.38% - Grey's Anatomy (vs. Grey's Anatomy (Repeat))
+62.50% - Community (vs. Community (Repeat))
+20.00% - 30 Rock (vs. Perfect Couples)
+16.67% - The Big Bang Theory
+8.00% - Rules of Engagement
+3.57% - Person of Interest (vs. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation)
-12.50% - Missing (vs. Wipeout (Repeat))
-17.24% - The Mentalist
-21.43% - Up All Night (vs. Parks & Recreation (Repeat))
-30.77% - Awake (vs. 30 Rock (Repeat)/Outsourced)
-32.35% - Touch (vs. Bones)
-37.70% - 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," 2.6/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 1.9/5 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.5/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.7/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.5/2 with an encore; "Nightline," 1.1/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/4.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/5 in metered-market household) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.1/4 delayed by Masters coverage). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-4) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2 delayed by Masters coverage).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 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 17 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (4/7/11):

FOX (15.96 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.8, #1) didn't miss a ratings beat on Thursday with new episodes of "American Idol" (20.65 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.1, #1) and "Bones" (11.28 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.4, #3).

CBS (12.41 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #2) then took home the silver with new episodes of "The Big Bang Theory" (11.24 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.6, #2), "Rules of Engagement" (8.61 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.5, #6), "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (12.61 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.8, #5) and "The Mentalist" (14.68 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #4).

Next up was NBC (2.77 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3) and its combination of "Community" (2.30 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T15), the departing "Perfect Couples" (2.26 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 1.0, #14), "The Office" (3.56 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.7, #7), "Parks & Recreation" (2.91 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.4, #9), "30 Rock" (2.66 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T10) and a new "Outsourced" (2.91 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T10) - a series low.

Meanwhile, ABC (3.86 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4) offered up its all-repeat lineup of "Wipeout" (5.10 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.6, #8), "Grey's Anatomy" (4.02 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T10) and "Private Practice" (2.46 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T15).

And finally, the return of "The Vampire Diaries" (2.75 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.2, #13) and "Nikita" (1.78 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 0.7, #17) on The CW (2.26 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Rules of Engagement (8.70%), The Mentalist (3.60%), The Big Bang Theory (0.00%), Bones (0.00% vs. 3/17/11), CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (0.00%), Perfect Couples (0.00%), The Vampire Diaries (-7.70% vs. 2/24/11), American Idol (-9.00%), Nikita (-12.50% vs. 2/24/11), Outsourced (-13.30% vs. 3/24/11).

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," 2.0/6 with an encore delayed by golf; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.9/7; 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," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.5/3 with an encore delayed by golf; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/4.

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 with an encore delayed by golf). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3 with an encore delayed by golf).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 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