nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, september 18, 2012)

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

NBC (8.71 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.1, #1) was the top draw on Tuesday thanks to week two of its lineup of "The Voice" (13.31 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.5, #1), "Go On" (9.33 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.3, #2), "The New Normal" (6.20 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3) and "Parenthood" (5.04 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.8, #4).

FOX (4.63 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #2) then claimed a distant silver with the two-hour season finale of "So You Think You Can Dance" (4.63 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T5).

Next up was CBS (8.77 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.5, #3) and its all-repeat lineup of "NCIS" (10.18 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T5), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (8.43 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T8) and another "NCIS: Los Angeles" (7.70 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T8).

Meanwhile, ABC (6.28 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #4) offered up repeats of "The Middle" (4.18 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T10) and "Last Man Standing" (3.85 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T10) plus the new two-hour special "20/20: Best in TV: The Greatest Shows of Our Time" (7.41 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T5).

And finally, repeats of "Hart of Dixie" (0.68 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #12) and "The Next" (0.59 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.2, #13) on The CW (0.63 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) closed out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Dixie" delivered a 0.5 rating while "The Next" posted a 0.3 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
15.38% - The Voice
6.67% - So You Think You Can Dance
-2.94% - Go On
-5.26% - Parenthood
-12.00% - The New Normal

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+95.65% - The Voice (vs. The Biggest Loser 12)
+43.48% - Go On (vs. The Biggest Loser 12)
-4.35% - The New Normal (vs. The Biggest Loser 12)
-14.29% - Parenthood
-37.25% - 20/20: Best in TV: The Greatest Shows of Our Time (vs. Dancing With the Stars/Body of Proof)
-58.97% - So You Think You Can Dance (vs. Glee/New Girl/Raising Hope)

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," 2.3/6; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 4.0/10; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.1/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.4/4.

· In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.7/3; "Late Show," 1.1/6; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

· At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.2/4 in metered-market households) trailed CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.9/7). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49) trailed "Late Late Show" (0.6/4).

· At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.3/3 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 (9/20/11):

FOX (8.69 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.9, #1) was the network to beat on the first Tuesday of the new season. The network offered up the return of "Glee" (8.91 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.8, #3) alongside the launch of "New Girl" (10.08 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 4.7, #1) and the season opener to "Raising Hope" (6.87 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 3.1, #5). "New Girl" is FOX's highest-rated fall sitcom debut in 10 years, since "The Bernie Mac Show" on 11/14/01.

CBS (16.74 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.6, #2) however was the most-watched network with its combination of "NCIS" (19.55 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.2, #2), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (16.69 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.6, #4) and "Unforgettable" (13.98 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.9, #6).

Next up was ABC (11.65 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #3) with its mix of "Dancing With the Stars: Meet the Cast" (10.74 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.0, #11), "Dancing With the Stars" (14.54 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.8, #7) and the return of "Body of Proof" (9.65 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T8).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.84 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #4) offered up the season premiere to "The Biggest Loser 12" (6.13 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.3, #T8) plus a new "Parenthood" (5.26 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.1, #10).

And finally, week two of "90210" (1.56 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.7, #13) and "Ringer" (1.96 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.9, #12) on The CW (1.76 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5) rounded out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "90210" delivered a 1.0 rating while "Ringer" posted a 1.3 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
-8.70% - Parenthood
-12.50% - 90210
-25.00% - Ringer

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+51.61% - New Girl (vs. Raising Hope)
+28.57% - Ringer (vs. Life Unexpected)
+24.00% - Raising Hope (vs. Running Wilde)
+7.69% - NCIS
+5.88% - NCIS: Los Angeles
-3.33% - Unforgettable (vs. NCIS: Los Angeles (S))
-8.00% - Body of Proof (vs. Detroit 187)
-16.00% - Parenthood
-20.69% - The Biggest Loser 12
-22.22% - 90210 (vs. One Tree Hill)
-23.08% - Dancing With the Stars: Meet the Cast (vs. Dancing With the Stars (S))
-30.91% - Glee
-34.88% - Dancing With the Stars

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," 2.6/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.8/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.3/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.7/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/4; "Late Show," 0.8/4; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/5 in metered-market households) tied 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" (0.5/3).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 in metered-market households and a 0.3/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research