nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for monday, april 16, 2012)

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

NBC (8.61 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.1, #1) held onto the demo crown on Monday thanks to new episodes of "The Voice" (9.94 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.6, #2) - its series low for performance shows - and "Smash" (5.96 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.9, #10) - its lowest-rated telecast to date.

ABC (14.72 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.6, #3) then was the most-watched network with originals of "Dancing With the Stars" (16.34 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.8, #6) - ties its series low for performance shows - and "Castle" (11.50 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.2, #7).

Next up was CBS (8.09 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.7, #2) with new episodes of "How I Met Your Mother" (7.27 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.0, #5) - its season low, "2 Broke Girls" (8.44 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.3, #3) - its series low, "Two and a Half Men" (11.04 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.7, #1) and "Mike & Molly" (9.56 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.1, #4) plus a repeat of "Hawaii Five-0" (6.11 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.6, #11).

Meanwhile, FOX (6.30 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.0, #4) offered up new episodes of "Bones" (6.97 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.1, #8) and "House" (5.62 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.0, #9).

And finally, The CW (1.22 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5) closed out the evening with new episodes of "Gossip Girl" (1.12 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T12) and "Hart of Dixie" (1.32 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T12). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Gossip" delivered a 1.1 rating while "Dixie" posted a 1.1 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+20.00% - Hart of Dixie
+20.00% - Gossip Girl
+5.71% - Two and a Half Men
0.00% - Castle (vs. 4/2/11)
0.00% - Bones
0.00% - House
-2.94% - 2 Broke Girls
-3.13% - Mike & Molly
-3.45% - Dancing With the Stars
-7.69% - The Voice
-9.52% - Smash
-11.76% - How I Met Your Mother

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+200.00% - The Voice (vs. Chuck/The Event)
+85.00% - Two and a Half Men (vs. Two and a Half Men (Repeat))
+73.68% - 2 Broke Girls (vs. Mad Love)
+72.73% - Smash (vs. Law & Order: LA)
+29.41% - Castle (vs. 20/20: William & Catherine: A Modern Fairytale)
+24.00% - Mike & Molly
+20.00% - How I Met Your Mother
+5.26% - House (vs. The Chicago Code)
-20.00% - Dancing With the Stars (vs. Dancing With the Stars/Cougar Town)
-25.00% - Hart of Dixie (vs. Gossip Girl)
-25.00% - Gossip Girl (vs. 90210)
-34.38% - Bones (vs. 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," 2.4/6 with an encore telecast; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.0/5 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.6/9; 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," 0.7/3 with an encore; "Late Show," 0.5/2 with an encore; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.1/4 in metered-market household with an encore) beat CBS's first-run "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.0/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.4/2 in 18-49 with an encore) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.3/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (4/18/11):

ABC (13.77 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.9, #1) pulled in front on Monday thanks to a 90-minute "Dancing With the Stars" (19.61 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.9, #1) followed by the return of "Cougar Town" (8.49 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.3, #6) and the special "20/20: William & Catherine: A Modern Fairytale" (7.66 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.7, #10).

FOX (7.54 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.5, #2) then took home the silver with new episodes of "House" (8.64 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.2, #2) and "The Chicago Code" (6.43 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T8).

Next up was CBS (8.48 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.3, #3) with its usual mix of "How I Met Your Mother" (6.38 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T4), "Mad Love" (5.60 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T8), "Two and a Half Men" (7.34 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.0, #7), "Mike & Molly" (9.74 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T4) and "Hawaii Five-0" (10.90 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.6, #3).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.29 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4) offered up fresh installments of "Chuck" (4.20 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.3, #11), "The Event" (3.75 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T12) and "Law & Order: LA" (4.91 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T12) - all of which either matched or hit new series lows.

And finally, the return of "90210" (1.72 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T14) and "Gossip Girl" (1.47 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T14) on The CW (1.60 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Mike & Molly (25.00%), 90210 (14.30% vs. 2/28/11), Gossip Girl (14.30% vs. 2/28/11), Hawaii Five-0 (8.30%), The Chicago Code (5.60%), Mad Love (0.00%), Chuck (0.00%), House (0.00%), How I Met Your Mother (-7.40%), The Event (-8.30% vs. 4/4/11), Dancing With the Stars (-9.30%), Cougar Town (-14.80% vs. 2/2/11), Law & Order: LA (-26.70%).

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 with an encore telecast; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.3/6 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.4/8; 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," 0.7/3 with an encore; "Late Show," 0.7/3 with an encore; "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 with an encore) tied CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.3/4 with an encore). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.4/3 in 18-49 with an encore) trailed "Late Late Show" (0.5/3 with an encore).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 with an encore in metered-market households and a 0.3/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research