nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for thursday, april 19, 2012)

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

FOX (10.97 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.0, #1) was again the network to beat on Thursday with new episodes of "American Idol" (14.59 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.9, #1) and "Touch" (7.35 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T6) - its series low.

Second place then went to ABC (8.03 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #2) with originals of "Missing" (7.08 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T12) - its lowest rating to date, "Grey's Anatomy" (9.65 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #2) and "Scandal" (7.35 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T6).

Next up was CBS (8.44 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.8, #3) with a repeat of "The Big Bang Theory" (9.25 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.5, #3) followed by a new "Rules of Engagement" (7.73 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T4) - tied as its series low with regular telecasts - and repeats of "Person of Interest" (8.66 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T9) and "The Mentalist" (8.18 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T9).

Meanwhile, NBC (3.23 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #4) offered up fresh installments of "Community" (2.91 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T12) - ties as a series low, "30 Rock" (3.16 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T9), "The Office" (4.31 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.2, #T4) - ties its series low - plus the return of "Parks & Recreation" (3.53 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.8, #8) and a new "Awake" (2.74 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.8, #14) - its series low.

And finally, new episodes of "The Vampire Diaries" (2.18 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.0, #13) and "The Secret Circle" (1.11 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.5, #15) on The CW (1.65 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Diaries" posted a 1.5 rating while "Circle" delivered a 0.6 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+10.34% - Grey's Anatomy
+7.14% - 30 Rock
+4.76% - The Office
0.00% - Scandal
-5.26% - Parks & Recreation (vs. 3/8/12)
-7.14% - Missing
-7.14% - Community
-7.14% - American Idol
-8.70% - Touch
-9.09% - The Vampire Diaries (vs. 3/29/12)
-11.11% - Awake
-16.67% - The Secret Circle (vs. 3/29/12)
-18.52% - Rules of Engagement

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+166.67% - Grey's Anatomy (vs. Grey's Anatomy (Repeat))
+162.50% - Scandal (vs. Private Practice (Repeat))
+66.67% - 30 Rock (vs. The Paul Reiser Show)
+46.67% - Rules of Engagement (vs. Rules of Engagement (Repeat))
0.00% - Missing (vs. Wipeout (Repeat))
-9.09% - The Vampire Diaries
-13.33% - Community
-28.00% - Parks & Recreation
-30.36% - American Idol
-33.33% - The Office
-34.38% - Touch (vs. Bones)
-37.50% - The Secret Circle (vs. Nikita)
-63.64% - Awake (vs. 30 Rock)

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," 2.1/5 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.4/8; 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," 0.7/3 with an encore; "Late Show," 0.5/3 with an encore; "Nightline," 0.9/4; 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) beat CBS's first-run "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.1/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.4/3 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 0.8/3 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 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (4/21/11):

FOX (15.36 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.4, #1) as usual was the network to beat on Thursday with new episodes of "American Idol" (19.62 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.6, #1) and "Bones" (11.10 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #3).

NBC (4.49 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.1, #2) then claimed the silver with new episodes of "Community" (3.30 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T9), "The Paul Reiser Show" (2.54 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.9, #14), "The Office" (6.80 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.3, #2), "Parks & Recreation" (5.09 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.5, #4) and a one-hour "30 Rock" (4.62 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.2, #5).

Next up was CBS (8.55 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.8, #3) with repeats of "The Big Bang Theory" (7.04 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.8, #7), "Rules of Engagement" (5.51 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T9), "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (8.40 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #8) and "The Mentalist" (10.96 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.1, #6).

ABC (3.77 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4) likewise offered up its all-repeat lineup of "Wipeout" (4.74 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.3, #11), "Grey's Anatomy" (3.86 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.2, #12) and "Private Practice" (2.73 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T15).

And finally, new episodes of "The Vampire Diaries" (2.65 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.1, #13) and "Nikita" (1.94 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T15) on The CW (2.30 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Community (7.10%), 30 Rock (0.00%), Nikita (0.00%), Parks & Recreation (-3.80%), American Idol (-8.20%), The Vampire Diaries (-8.30%), Bones (-13.50%), The Office (-15.40%), The Paul Reiser Show (-18.20%).

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

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets (the Nashville market is delayed), household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 2.0/5 with an encore telecast delayed by a preview of "The Voice"; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.6/6 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.7/6; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.3/4.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4 with an encore delayed by "Voice" preview; "Late Show," 0.6/3 with an encore; "Nightline," 0.7/3; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.4/2.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.2/4 in metered-market households with an encore delayed by "Voice" preview) trailed CBS's on-time first-run "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.5/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/2 in 18-49 with an encore delayed by "Voice" preview) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/2).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.7/3 with an encore delayed by "Voice" preview 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