nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, may 22, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

FOX (11.02 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.6, #1) posted its best Tuesday since February 28 thanks to the penultimate "American Idol" (14.39 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.2, #1) and the season finale of "Glee" (7.64 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.0, #4).

ABC (14.58 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.6, #2) then was the most-watched network with its "Dancing With the Stars Recap" (8.78 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.3, #9) followed by the two-hour season finale of "Dancing With the Stars" (17.48 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.2, #T2) - its lowest-rated finale ever.

Next up was NBC (6.55 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.1, #3) with its mix of an "America's Got Talent" (5.29 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T6) encore, a new "America's Got Talent" (9.29 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.2, #T2) and the "Dateline NBC: 20th Anniversary Special" (5.05 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T6).

Meanwhile, CBS (8.64 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #4) offered up repeats of "NCIS: Los Angeles" (7.47 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.1, #10), "NCIS" (9.16 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T6) and a second "NCIS" (9.29 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #5).

And finally, a repeat of "Hart of Dixie" (0.89 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.3, #11) led into a new "The L.A. Complex" (0.45 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.2, #12) on The CW (0.67 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.2, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Dixie" delivered a 0.3 rating while "Complex" posted a 0.3 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+45.45% - Dancing With the Stars
+20.00% - Glee
0.00% - The L.A. Complex
-5.88% - America's Got Talent
-12.50% - American Idol (vs. 5/16/12)

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+3.23% - America's Got Talent (vs. The Biggest Loser)
-28.89% - Dancing With the Stars
-32.26% - American Idol
-33.33% - The L.A. Complex (vs. Hellcats (Repeat))
-34.78% - Glee
-57.89% - Dateline NBC: 20th Anniversary Special (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," 2.5/6; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.5/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 4.4/10; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.2/7.

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," 1.2/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

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" (1.1/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

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 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (5/24/11):

FOX (16.03 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 5.4, #1) won the penultimate night of the May sweeps period with a new "American Idol" (19.96 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 6.2, #1) and the season finale of "Glee" (12.10 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.6, #2).

ABC (17.41 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.7, #2) however was the most-watched network with its "Dancing With the Stars Recap" (10.29 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.0, #6) followed by the two-hour season finale of "Dancing With the Stars" (20.97 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.5, #3).

Next up was NBC (8.24 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.3, #3) with the season finale of "The Biggest Loser" (8.08 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 3.1, #5) and a new "The Voice" (8.55 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.8, #4).

Meanwhile, CBS (9.29 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.7, #4) offered up repeats of "NCIS" (10.24 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.8, #7), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (9.27 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T8) and another "NCIS: Los Angeles" (8.37 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T8).

And finally, The CW (0.67 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.2, #5) did the same with "One Tree Hill" (0.64 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.2, #11) and "Hellcats" (0.71 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.3, #10).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Glee (31.40%), Dancing With the Stars (28.60%), The Biggest Loser (10.70%), American Idol (-13.90% vs. 5/18/11), The Voice (-15.60%).

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," 3.0/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.5/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 5.0/11; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.4/7.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.1/5; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 1.7/6; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.9/5.

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" (1.3/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.7/4 in 18-49) 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 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research