ABC's "Last Man Standing" Posts Huge Time-Slot Gains in its First Season

Some early info on ABC's Tuesday, ahead of the regular press release.

At 8pm, opposite CBS' NCIS, ABC's season finale of Last Man Standing stood as the 2nd most-watched TV show, outdrawing the opening half-hour of Fox's Glee by 5% and NBC's Fashion Star by 57%. Additionally, self-starter Last Man Standing qualified as Tuesday's most-watched comedy, beating the season finale of Fox's New Girl by 1.1 million viewers in the 9pm half-hour.

· ABC's Last Man Standing surged by double digits week to week in Adults 18-49 (+13%).

· During its first season, Last Man Standing delivered huge time-period gains in for ABC in Total Viewers (+41%) and Adults 18-49 (+42%) over the prior season.

In the 8:30pm half-hour, Cougar Town spiked over the prior week in Adults 18-49 (+15%) and Adults 18-34 (+38%), equaling an 7-week high and an 10-week high - since 3/20/12 and 2/28/12, respectively.

Jumping over its lead-in at 9pm, ABC's DWTS Results Show topped the opening hour of NBC's The Voice finale by 2.4 million viewers. In a double elimination, Disney Channel star Roshon Fegan and actress Melissa Gilbert were the next celebrities to leave the dance competition this season.

· Despite facing The Voice finale, ABC's DWTS Results Show retained 100% of its week-ago "Fast Affiliate" Adult 18-49 rating. Building week to week, the ABC unscripted series posted its top Adult 18-34 number in 5 weeks and best-since premiere numbers with key Men (M18-34/M18-49) - since 4/3/12 and 3/27/12, respectively.

During the 10 o'clock hour against the conclusion of The Voice finale, ABC's Private Practice dominated its CBS drama competition for the 4th week running in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34, leading CBS' Unforgettable by 38% and 125%, respectively.

Quick Take for Tuesday, May 8, 2012 (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings)

During its Freshman Season Run, "Last Man Standing" Improves its Slot for ABC By Big Margins Over Last Season, Gaining 41% in Viewers and 42% in Adults 18-49

Spiking Week to Week, ABC's "Cougar Town" Hits a 7-Week High in Adults 18-49

ABC's "DWTS Results Show" Tops NBC's "The Voice" Finale by 2.4 Million Viewers And Grows to a 5-Week High in Adults 18-34 and Best-Since Premiere Men Numbers

ABC's "Private Practice" Dominates CBS' "Unforgettable" in Adults 18-34 at 10pm

"Last Man Standing" (8:00-8:30 p.m.)

At 8:00 p.m., opposite CBS' "NCIS," ABC's season finale of "Last Man Standing" (6.6 million) stood as the 2nd-most-watched TV show, outdrawing the opening half-hour of Fox's "Glee" by 5% (6.3 million) and NBC's "Fashion Star" by 57% (4.2 million). Additionally, self-starter "Last Man Standing" qualified as Tuesday's most-watched comedy, topping the season finale of Fox's "New Girl" (5.5 million) by 1.1 million viewers in the 9:00 p.m. half-hour.

· ABC's "Last Man Standing" surged by double digits week to week in Adults 18-49 (+13% - 1.7/5 vs. 1.5/5).

· During its first season, "Last Man Standing" delivered huge time-period gains for ABC in Total Viewers (+41% - 9.2 million vs. 6.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (+42% - 2.7/8 vs. 1.9/5) over last season.

"Cougar Town" (8:30-9:00 p.m.)

In the 8:30 p.m. half-hour, ABC's "Cougar Town" spiked over the prior week in Adults 18-49 (+15% - 1.5/4 vs. 1.3/4) and Adults 18-34 (+38% - 1.1/4 vs. 0.8/3), equaling a 7-week high and a 10-week high - since 3/20/12 and 2/28/12, respectively.

"DWTS Results Show" (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Jumping over its lead-in at 9:00 p.m., ABC's "DWTS Results Show" topped the opening hour of NBC's "The Voice" finale by 2.4 million viewers (13.3 million vs. 10.9 million). In a double elimination, Disney Channel star Roshon Fegan and actress Melissa Gilbert were the next celebrities to leave the dance competition.

· Despite facing "The Voice" finale, ABC's "DWTS Results Show" retained 100% of its week-ago "Fast Affiliate" Adult 18-49 rating (2.3/6). Building week to week, the ABC unscripted series posted its top Adult 18-34 rating in 5 weeks and best-since premiere numbers with key Men (M18-34/M18-49) - since 4/3/12 and 3/27/12, respectively.

"Private Practice" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)

During the 10 o'clock hour against the conclusion of "The Voice" finale, ABC's "Private Practice" dominated its CBS drama competition for the 4th week running in Adults 18-34 and Women 18-34, leading CBS' season finale of "Unforgettable" by 38% (1.1/3 vs. 0.8/2) and 125% (1.8/5 vs. 0.8/2), respectively.

A note about increasing DVR penetration and year-to-year rating comparisons: Year-to-year rating comparisons based on the Live + Same Day data stream are distorted by the level of DVR penetration in the Nielsen sample, which has jumped up to 44% currently, from 41% at the same point in 2011. More viewers are watching shows on their own timetables, which may not be reflected in the overnight next day numbers. The only truly valid year-to-year comparison would be one based on the Live + 7 Day metric, once those stats are released by Nielsen.

Source: The Nielsen Company (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Program Ratings), 05/08/12.