nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, november 20, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 17 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

CBS (13.91 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.5, #1) pulled into the top spot on Tuesday thanks to new episodes of "NCIS" (16.47 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.0, #2), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (15.06 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #3) and "Vegas" (10.20 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #7).

NBC (6.38 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #2) then had to settle for second place with its mix of "The Voice" (9.33 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.3, #1), "Go On" (6.21 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.2, #4), "The New Normal" (4.35 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T8) and "Parenthood" (4.52 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T8).

Next up was FOX (3.25 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #3) and its comedy lineup of "Raising Hope" (3.69 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.5, #10), "Ben & Kate" (2.52 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.1, #14), "New Girl" (4.09 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.0, #5) and "The Mindy Project" (2.69 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.3, #11).

Meanwhile, ABC (7.01 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #4) offered up its combination of "Dancing with the Stars" (12.87 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.9, #6), "Happy Endings" (4.87 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T12), "Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23" (3.20 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.9, #15) and "Private Practice" (4.14 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T12).

And finally, originals from "Hart of Dixie" (1.21 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 0.5, #16) and "Emily Owens, MD" (1.27 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.4, #17) on The CW (1.24 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) closed out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Dixie" delivered a 0.8 rating while "Emily" posted a 0.6 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+12.50% - Vegas
+9.09% - Private Practice
0.00% - NCIS
0.00% - NCIS: Los Angeles
0.00% - Dancing with the Stars
0.00% - Ben & Kate
0.00% - Emily Owens, MD
-4.35% - Go On
-6.25% - Raising Hope
-9.09% - New Girl
-11.11% - Parenthood
-11.11% - The New Normal
-13.16% - The Voice
-14.29% - Happy Endings
-18.18% - Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23
-23.53% - The Mindy Project
-28.57% - Hart of Dixie

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+65.00% - The Voice (vs. The Biggest Loser 12)
+10.00% - Go On (vs. The Biggest Loser 12)
0.00% - Emily Owens, MD (vs. Hart of Dixie)
-6.67% - NCIS: Los Angeles
-14.29% - NCIS
-15.79% - Parenthood
-16.67% - Hart of Dixie (vs. 90210)
-17.39% - Dancing with the Stars (vs. Last Man Standing/Man Up!)
-18.18% - Vegas (vs. Unforgettable)
-20.00% - The New Normal (vs. The Biggest Loser 12)
-39.39% - New Girl (vs. The X Factor)
-53.13% - Raising Hope (vs. The X Factor)
-60.61% - The Mindy Project (vs. The X Factor)
-65.63% - Ben & Kate (vs. The X Factor)
-70.73% - Private Practice (vs. Dancing With the Stars)
-70.73% - Happy Endings (vs. Dancing With the Stars)
-78.05% - Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 (vs. 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," 2.7/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.5/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.0/7; 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," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.5/3; "Nightline," 1.1/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

* 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 with an encore). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/2 with an encore).

* At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 in metered-market households and a 0.2/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (11/22/11):

ABC (15.66 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.5, #1) moved top spot on Tuesday with the two-hour season finale of "Dancing With the Stars" (19.45 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.1, #1). Compared with last fall's finale (24.13 million viewers; adults 18-49: 5.3 on 11/23/10), "Dancing" however was down 19.39% in total viewers and 22.64% in adults 18-49, marking its lowest-rated November finale to date. Leading off the night were new episodes of "Last Man Standing" (9.33 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.7, #6) and "Man Up!" (6.79 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T9).

FOX (9.33 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.2, #2) then took home the silver with special Tuesday installments of "The X Factor" (9.58 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.2, #4) and another "The X Factor" (9.08 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.3, #3).

Next was CBS (14.27 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #3) with new episodes of "NCIS" (18.45 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.5, #2), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (14.03 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.0, #5) and "Unforgettable" (10.33 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #7) - all of which marked season lows.

Meanwhile, NBC (5.22 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.9, #4) offered up fresh installments of "The Biggest Loser 12" (5.56 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.0, #8) and - with a season low - "Parenthood" (4.54 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T9).

And finally, a new "90210" (1.26 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.6, #11) lead into a repeat of "Hart of Dixie" (0.94 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.4, #12) on The CW (1.10 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "90210" delivered a 0.9 rating while "Dixie" posted a 0.6 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+51.85% - Dancing With the Stars
+11.76% - Man Up!
+3.85% - Last Man Standing
0.00% - Parenthood
-4.76% - The Biggest Loser 12
-8.33% - Unforgettable
-9.09% - NCIS: Los Angeles
-11.11% - The X Factor - 8:00 (vs. 11/16/11)
-12.50% - NCIS
-14.29% - 90210
-19.51% - The X Factor - 9:00 (vs. 11/16/11)

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+100.00% - 90210 (vs. One Tree Hill (Repeat))
+57.14% - The X Factor - 9:00 (vs. Raising Hope/Raising Hope (Repeat))
+50.00% - Last Man Standing (vs. No Ordinary Family)
+5.56% - Man Up! (vs. No Ordinary Family)
+4.76% - Unforgettable (vs. The Good Wife)
0.00% - Parenthood
-6.25% - NCIS: Los Angeles
-10.26% - NCIS
-16.67% - The Biggest Loser 12
-20.00% - The X Factor - 8:00 (vs. Glee)
-22.64% - 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," 2.8/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.7/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 4.9/11; 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," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.8/4; "Nightline," 1.6/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.7/4.

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" (1.2/4). 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 with an encore and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research