nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for monday, may 7, 2012)

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

NBC (8.98 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.1, #1) was the network to beat on Monday thanks to the penultimate installments of "The Voice" (10.51 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.7, #T1) and "Smash" (5.92 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T10).

CBS (9.61 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #2) then snagged a competitive second place with a new "2 Broke Girls" (8.40 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.9, #5) followed by the season finale of "2 Broke Girls" (9.32 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.4, #3) and new episodes of "Two and a Half Men" (11.26 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.7, #T1), "Mike & Molly" (10.18 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.1, #4) and "Hawaii Five-0" (9.24 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.3, #8) - tied as its series low.

Next up was ABC (14.85 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.6, #3) with a fresh "Dancing With the Stars" (15.99 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.6, #6) - its series low for performance shows - and the season finale of "Castle" (12.56 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.5, #7).

Meanwhile, FOX (6.54 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.0, #4) offered up originals from "Bones" (6.91 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T10) and "House" (6.17 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.1, #9).

And finally, new episodes of "Gossip Girl" (0.87 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.4, #13) and "Hart of Dixie" (1.33 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.6, #12) over on The CW (1.10 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Gossip" delivered a 0.7 rating while "Dixie" posted a 1.0 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+5.71% - The Voice
+5.56% - Smash
+4.17% - Castle
0.00% - Two and a Half Men
0.00% - House
0.00% - Bones
0.00% - Hart of Dixie
-2.86% - 2 Broke Girls
-3.13% - Mike & Molly
-3.70% - Dancing With the Stars
-8.00% - Hawaii Five-0
-33.33% - Gossip Girl

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+208.33% - The Voice (vs. Chuck/The Event)
+117.65% - Two and a Half Men (vs. Two and a Half Men (Repeat))
+88.89% - 2 Broke Girls - 8:30 (vs. Mad Love)
+58.33% - Smash (vs. Law & Order: LA)
+40.91% - Mike & Molly
+23.53% - House (vs. The Chicago Code)
+16.00% - 2 Broke Girls - 8:00 (vs. How I Met Your Mother)
0.00% - Hart of Dixie (vs. Gossip Girl)
0.00% - Hawaii Five-0
-19.35% - Castle
-34.48% - Bones (vs. House)
-36.59% - Dancing With the Stars
-42.86% - Gossip Girl (vs. 90210)

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," 2.7/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.3/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.6/9; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.8/5.

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," 1.1/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.7/4.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "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 and a 0.3/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (5/9/11):

New episodes of "Dancing With the Stars" (20.19 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.1, #1) and "Castle" (12.64 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.1, #2) put ABC (17.67 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.8, #1) over the top on Monday.

FOX (6.74 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #2) then took home the silver with fresh installments of "House" (7.77 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.9, #3) and "The Chicago Code" (5.71 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T8).

Next up was CBS (7.29 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.1, #3) with its mix of "How I Met Your Mother" (6.36 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.5, #4), "Mad Love" (5.15 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.8, #7), "Two and a Half Men" (6.37 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T8), "Mike & Molly" (7.50 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.2, #6) and "Hawaii Five-0" (9.17 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #5) - all of which matched or set new series lows.

Meanwhile, NBC (4.28 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4) offered up new episodes of "Chuck" (4.06 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.3, #10), "The Event" (3.77 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.1, #12) - both of which tied series lows - and "Law & Order: LA" (5.01 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.2, #11).

And finally, fresh installments of "90210" (1.46 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.7, #13) and "Gossip Girl" (1.18 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.6, #14) on The CW (1.32 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Castle (6.90%), The Chicago Code (6.30%), 90210 (0.00%), House (0.00%), Hawaii Five-0 (-4.20%), Mike & Molly (-4.30%), Dancing With the Stars (-6.80%), Chuck (-7.10%), How I Met Your Mother (-7.40%), Gossip Girl (-14.30%), Law & Order: LA (-14.30%), The Event (-15.40%), Mad Love (-18.20%).

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," 2.9/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.4/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 4.0/10; 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," 1.0/4; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 1.2/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.7/4.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.3/4). 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 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