nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, april 17, 2012)

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

FOX (5.40 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T1) and NBC (6.68 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T1) split the demo crown on Tuesday as the former offered up new episodes of "Glee" (6.18 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T4), "New Girl" (5.31 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.7, #3) and the season finale of "Raising Hope" (3.93 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.9, #8).

The Peacock then offered up fresh installments of "The Biggest Loser 13" (6.87 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.2, #6), "The Voice" (8.75 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.3, #1) and "Fashion Star" (4.41 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T11) - ties its lowest rating to date.

A competitive third place went to CBS (12.41 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3) with an original "NCIS" (17.62 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.0, #2) - its season low - followed by repeats of "NCIS: Los Angeles" (11.32 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.0, #7) and "Unforgettable" (8.28 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T11).

Meanwhile, ABC (8.70 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.9, #4) served up new episodes of "Last Man Standing" (6.43 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.6, #10) - its series low, "Cougar Town" (4.62 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.4, #13) - tied as its series low, "Dancing With the Stars" (13.80 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T4) and the relocated "Private Practice" (6.78 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.7, #9) - a series low.

And finally, a repeat of "90210" (0.76 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.3, #15) led into the season finale of "Ringer" (1.16 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.5, #14) on The CW (0.96 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "90210" delivered a 0.5 rating while "Ringer" posted a 0.7 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+4.35% - Dancing With the Stars
0.00% - New Girl
0.00% - The Biggest Loser 13
0.00% - Raising Hope
0.00% - Ringer
-3.23% - NCIS
-5.71% - The Voice
-5.88% - Last Man Standing
-6.67% - Cougar Town
-22.73% - Private Practice (vs. 3/15/12)
-11.11% - Glee
-16.67% - Fashion Star

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+45.45% - Last Man Standing (vs. Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution)
+43.48% - The Voice (vs. The Biggest Loser)
+36.36% - NCIS (vs. NCIS (Repeat))
+35.71% - Raising Hope (vs. Traffic Light)
+27.27% - Cougar Town (vs. Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution)
+22.73% - New Girl (vs. Raising Hope)
0.00% - Ringer (vs. Hellcats)
-4.35% - The Biggest Loser 13
-17.24% - Dancing With the Stars
-29.17% - Private Practice (vs. Body of Proof)
-35.14% - Glee
-40.00% - Fashion Star (vs. Parenthood)

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," 2.3/6 with an encore telecast; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.6/7 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.3/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.9/6.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/4 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" (1.2/4 in metered-market household with an encore) tied CBS's first-run "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 with an encore) 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 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 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (4/19/11):

FOX (7.06 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.8, #1) was the network to beat on Tuesday with the return of "Glee" (9.66 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.7, #1) and "Raising Hope" (5.66 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T7) followed by a new "Traffic Light" (3.27 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.4, #10).

NBC (6.50 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.4, #2) then took home the silver with a new "The Biggest Loser" (6.60 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.3, #6) and the season finale of "Parenthood" (6.31 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.5, #3) - its highest 18-49 rating since September 21 and biggest overall viewer total since the season premiere on September 14.

Next up was CBS (11.16 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3) with its repeat mix of "NCIS" (13.30 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T7), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (11.21 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T4) and another "NCIS: Los Angeles" (8.97 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.0, #9).

Meanwhile, ABC (10.67 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.1, #4) offered up its combination of "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution" (4.68 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.1, #11), "Dancing With the Stars" (15.84 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.9, #2) and "Body of Proof" (11.51 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T4).

And finally, the return of "One Tree Hill" (1.43 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.7, #12) and "Hellcats" (1.14 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.5, #13) on The CW (1.29 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Traffic Light (55.60%), Parenthood (25.00%), Dancing With the Stars (-3.30%), Body of Proof (-4.00%), Glee (-7.50% vs. 3/15/11), The Biggest Loser (-11.50%), Raising Hope (-12.00% vs. 3/15/11), One Tree Hill (-12.50% vs. 3/1/11), Hellcats (-16.70% vs. 3/1/11), Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution (-21.40%).

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," 2.3/6 with an encore telecast; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.5/6 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.9/9; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.9/6.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/4 with an encore; "Late Show," 0.5/2 with an encore; "Nightline," 1.1/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.7/4.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.2/4 in metered-market households with an encore) trailed CBS's first-run "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.4/5 with an encore). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/3 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 0.8/4 with an encore 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