nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, may 1, 2012)

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

CBS (14.29 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.6, #1) moved into the top spot on Tuesday thanks to new episodes of "NCIS" (17.25 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.0, #T2) - its season low, "NCIS: Los Angeles" (15.01 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #T2) and "Unforgettable" (10.63 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #9) - tied as its series low.

NBC (6.74 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #2) then had to settle for the silver despite the season finale of "The Biggest Loser 13" (7.13 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T6) followed by new episodes of "The Voice" (8.86 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.1, #1) and "Fashion Star" (4.23 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.5, #10).

Next up was FOX (4.79 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.1, #3) with its fresh installments of "Glee" (5.95 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.4, #4) and "New Girl" (4.39 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T6) alongside a repeat of "New Girl" (2.86 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T11).

Meanwhile, ABC (8.93 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.9, #4) offered up its original mix of "Last Man Standing" (6.49 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T11) - its series low, "Cougar Town" (4.99 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.3, #13) - also its series low, "Dancing With the Stars" (13.42 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #5) - tied as its series low (excluding specials) - and "Private Practice" (7.62 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T6).

And finally, new episodes of "90210" (1.19 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.6, #14) and "The L.A. Complex" (0.57 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.3, #15) over on The CW (0.88 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "90210" delivered a 1.0 rating while "Complex" posted a 0.4 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+30.43% - NCIS: Los Angeles (vs. 4/10/12)
0.00% - NCIS (vs. 4/17/12)
0.00% - Unforgettable (vs. 4/10/12)
0.00% - 90210
0.00% - The L.A. Complex
-3.13% - The Voice
-4.17% - Dancing With the Stars
-4.55% - Private Practice
-4.55% - The Biggest Loser 13
-6.25% - Fashion Star
-11.11% - Glee
-12.50% - Last Man Standing (vs. 4/17/12)
-13.33% - Cougar Town
-19.23% - New Girl

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+10.53% - New Girl (vs. Raising Hope)
+5.00% - Private Practice (vs. Body of Proof)
+3.45% - NCIS: Los Angeles
0.00% - 90210 (vs. One Tree Hill)
-14.29% - NCIS
-19.23% - The Biggest Loser 13
-20.69% - Dancing With the Stars
-22.22% - Last Man Standing (vs. Dancing With the Stars Recap)
-25.00% - Unforgettable (vs. The Good Wife)
-25.00% - The L.A. Complex (vs. Hellcats)
-27.78% - Cougar Town (vs. Dancing With the Stars Recap)
-33.33% - Glee
-44.64% - The Voice
-73.21% - Fashion Star (vs. The Voice)

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," 2.5/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.5/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.4/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.0/6.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/4; "Late Show," 0.6/3; "Nightline," 1.0/4; 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). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.4/3 in 18-49) tied "Late Late Show" (0.4/2).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 in metered-market households and a 0.3/2 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 (5/3/11):

NBC (10.70 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.6, #1) was the network to beat on Tuesday with a new "The Biggest Loser" (7.35 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.6, #6) and week two of "The Voice" (12.38 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 5.6, #1). "The Voice" posted NBC's highest non-sports adults 18-49 rating in the time period since 11/29/05 ("Biggest Loser"/"SVU") and most-watched since 9/1/09 ("America's Got Talent").

CBS (14.54 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.9, #2) then once again had to settle for second place with new episodes of "NCIS" (17.32 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.5, #3), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (14.05 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.9, #T4) - both season lows - and "The Good Wife" (12.26 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.4, #7).

Next up was FOX (6.28 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.6, #3) with fresh installments of "Glee" (8.61 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.6, #2), "Raising Hope" (4.92 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.9, #9) and "Traffic Light" (2.98 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.2, #11).

Meanwhile, ABC (11.76 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.2, #4) offered up its "Dancing With the Stars Recap" (9.27 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.8, #10) followed by new episodes of "Dancing With the Stars" (15.60 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #T4) and "Body of Proof" (10.39 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.0, #8) - tied for a series low.

And finally, new episodes of "One Tree Hill" (1.24 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.6, #12) and "Hellcats" (0.97 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.4, #13) on The CW (1.10 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): The Good Wife (20.00% vs. 4/12/11), The Voice (9.80%), Glee (5.90%), Raising Hope (0.00%), Hellcats (0.00%), The Biggest Loser (-3.70%), NCIS (-7.90% vs. 4/12/11), NCIS: Los Angeles (-12.10% vs. 4/12/11), Body of Proof (-13.00%), Traffic Light (-14.30% vs. 4/19/11), One Tree Hill (-14.30%), Dancing With the Stars (-17.10%).

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," 3.1/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.9/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 4.2/10; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.0/6.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.2/5; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 1.3/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.4/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 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 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