nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for thursday, may 24, 2012)

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

FOX (6.23 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #1) opened the summer season on top thanks to the return of "So You Think You Can Dance" (6.23 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.4, #1).

CBS (7.64 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T2) then claimed the silver with its all-repeat lineup of "The Big Bang Theory" (8.27 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.3, #2), "Rules of Engagement" (6.26 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T3), "Person of Interest" (7.83 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T6) and "The Mentalist" (7.83 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #5).

Next up was ABC (6.46 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T2) with the two-hour premiere of "Duets" (6.69 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T3) followed by the return of "Rookie Blue" (5.99 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T6).

Meanwhile, NBC (2.94 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #4) offered up repeats of "The Office" (2.42 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T10), another "The Office" (2.00 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T10), "America's Got Talent" (3.77 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.2, #8) and the season finale of "Awake" (2.85 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.9, #9).

And finally, the special "Perez Hilton All Access: Lady Gaga" (0.87 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #12) and a repeat of "The Vampire Diaries" (0.56 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.2, #13) on The CW (0.71 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Perez Hilton" posted a 0.5 rating while "Diaries" delivered a 0.3 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+28.57% - Awake
0.00% - Perez Hilton All Access

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+55.56% - Rookie Blue (vs. Rookie Blue (Repeat))
+47.83% - Duets (vs. Wipeout (Repeat)/Rookie Blue (Repeat))
-5.26% - Awake (vs. 30 Rock (Repeat)/The Office (Repeat))
-25.00% - So You Think You Can Dance
-25.00% - Perez Hilton All Access: Lady Gaga (vs. The Vampire Diaries (Repeat))

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

TBA

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (5/26/11):

"So You Think You Can Dance" (9.10 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.2, #1) returned on top as FOX (9.10 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.2, #1) kicked off the summer season with a victory. Last night's premiere was the show's most-watched premiere in four years (five cycles, since 5/24/07) and its highes rated in three years (four cycles, since 5/22/08).

CBS (8.09 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.7, #2) then was king of the repeats with its mix of "The Big Bang Theory" (8.17 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.1, #2), "Rules of Engagement" (6.76 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.8, #3), "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (7.72 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T5) and "The Mentalist" (9.08 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4).

ABC (4.12 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #3) followed with its lineup of "Wipeout" (5.08 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T5), "Rookie Blue" (3.88 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T10) and another "Rookie Blue" (3.40 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T10).

Next up was NBC (2.43 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #4) and its all-repeat combination of "Community" (2.83 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T13), "30 Rock" (2.39 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T13), "The Office" (2.78 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.2, #7), "Parks & Recreation" (2.25 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T8), another "30 Rock" (2.26 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T8) and another "The Office" (2.06 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T10).

And finally, repeats of "The Vampire Diaries" (0.98 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.4, #15) and "Nikita" (0.93 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.3, #16) on The CW (0.96 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): None.

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

Currently not available.

Source: Nielsen Media Research