nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for thursday, april 26, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 17 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

FOX (10.46 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #1) won the demo crown on the first night of the May sweeps period thanks to a new "American Idol" (14.45 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.9, #2) followed by a new "Touch" (6.48 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.9, #9) - a series low.

CBS (11.60 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.6, #2) then was the most-watched network with its mix of "The Big Bang Theory" (12.52 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.0, #1) - its season low, "Rules of Engagement" (8.35 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.5, #4), "Person of Interest" (12.50 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #5) - its series low - and "The Mentalist" (11.85 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T6) - its Thursday series low.

Next up was ABC (7.72 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3) and its original lineup of "Missing" (6.90 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.3, #13) - its lowest-rated telecast to date, "Grey's Anatomy" (9.27 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.2, #3) and "Scandal" (6.98 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T6).

Meanwhile, NBC (3.10 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #4) offered up fresh installments of "Community" (3.29 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.4, #12), "30 Rock" (3.55 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T10), "The Office" (4.15 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T6) - its series low, "Parks & Recreation" (3.21 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T10) - its series low - and "Awake" (2.19 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.8, #15) - its lowest-rated telecast to date.

And finally, new episodes of "The Vampire Diaries" (2.23 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.0, #14) and "The Secret Circle" (1.19 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.5, #16) on The CW (1.71 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Diaries" posted a 1.8 rating while "Circle" delivered a 0.8 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+13.64% - Rules of Engagement
+7.69% - Community
6.67% - 30 Rock
0.00% - American Idol
0.00% - Grey's Anatomy
0.00% - Scandal
0.00% - Missing
0.00% - The Vampire Diaries
0.00% - Awake
0.00% - The Secret Circle
-4.55% - The Office
-4.76% - The Big Bang Theory (vs. 4/5/12)
-9.52% - Touch
-11.11% - Parks & Recreation
-12.50% - The Mentalist (vs. 4/5/12)
-17.24% - Person of Interest (vs. 4/5/12)

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+25.00% - The Big Bang Theory
+8.70% - Rules of Engagement
+6.67% - 30 Rock (vs. The Office (Repeat))
+4.35% - Person of Interest (vs. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation)
0.00% - Missing (vs. 20/20: The Royal Wedding - A Modern Fairytale)
-4.55% - Scandal (vs. Private Practice)
-6.67% - Community
-8.57% - Grey's Anatomy
-16.67% - The Vampire Diaries
-16.67% - The Secret Circle (vs. Nikita)
-19.23% - The Mentalist
-29.09% - American Idol
-32.14% - Touch (vs. Bones)
-48.78% - The Office
-60.00% - Parks & Recreation (vs. The Office/Parks & Recreation)
-61.90% - Awake (vs. Parks & Recreation (S)/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; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.9/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.3/8; 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," 0.6/3; "Late Show," 0.8/4; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/4 in metered-market households) trailed CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.4/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.4/3 in 18-49) trailed "Late Late Show" (0.5/3).

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 (4/28/11):

FOX (14.41 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.2, #1) held off the competition yet again on Thursday with new episodes of "American Idol" (19.02 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.5, #1) and "Bones" (9.81 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.8, #6).

CBS (10.98 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T2) and NBC (5.27 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T2) then split the silver as the former offered up new episodes of "The Big Bang Theory" (10.48 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.2, #5), "Rules of Engagement" (7.77 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T8), "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (10.52 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T8) and "The Mentalist" (13.28 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.6, #7).

As for NBC, the Peacock offered up a new "Community" (3.59 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T13), a repeat of "The Office" (3.15 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T13) and new episodes of (half-hour results only) "The Office" (8.25 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 4.1, #2), "The Office/Parks & Recreation" (8.00 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 4.0, #3), "Parks & Recreation" (4.65 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T8) and "30 Rock" (3.96 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.9, #12). The 9-9:30 results currently stand as "The Office's" top figures since the January 20 telecast.

Next up was ABC (7.97 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #4) with its "20/20: The Royal Wedding - A Modern Fairytale" (6.92 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.3, #15) special followed by new episodes of "Grey's Anatomy" (10.32 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.5, #4) and "Private Practice" (6.67 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.2, #11).

And finally, new episodes of "The Vampire Diaries" (2.60 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 1.2, #16) and "Nikita" (1.74 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 0.6, #17) on The CW (2.17 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): The Office (24.20%), The Vampire Diaries (9.10%), Community (0.00%), American Idol (-1.80%), Rules of Engagement (-8.00% vs. 4/7/11), Parks & Recreation (-8.00%), The Mentalist (-10.30% vs. 4/7/11), The Big Bang Theory (-11.10% vs. 4/7/11), Bones (-12.50%), 30 Rock (-13.60%), CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (-17.90% vs. 4/7/11), Private Practice (-18.50% vs. 3/31/11), Nikita (-25.00%), Grey's Anatomy (-27.10% vs. 3/31/11).

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

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets (the Birmingham market is delayed), household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 2.9/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.7/7; 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," 1.0/4; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 1.2/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/5 in metered-market households) tied CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.5/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.7/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 in metered-market households and a 0.5/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research