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

Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

NBC (12.05 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.0, #1) was the network to beat thanks to the two-hour season finale of "The Voice" (14.04 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.9, #1). A one-hour performance recap of "The Voice" (8.07 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.4, #4) lead off the night for the Peacock.

CBS (14.85 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.6, #2) then had to settle for second place with its mix of "NCIS" (19.41 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.3, #2), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (15.36 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.9, #3) and "Vegas" (9.78 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #6).

Next up was ABC (4.16 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #3) with a rebroadcast of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (5.84 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.7, #5) followed by originals from "Happy Endings" (3.18 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.3, #7), "Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23" (2.55 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.1, #9) and "Private Practice" (3.77 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.2, #8).

Meanwhile, FOX (1.93 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4) was out of the hunt with its all-repeat lineup of "Raising Hope" (2.53 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.0, #10), "Ben & Kate" (1.98 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T11), "New Girl" (1.75 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T11) and "The Mindy Project" (1.46 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.6, #13).

And finally, the feature "It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie" (1.44 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.5, #14) on The CW (1.44 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), the film delivered a 0.7 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+40.00% - The Voice
+17.86% - NCIS
+11.54% - NCIS: Los Angeles
+10.00% - Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23
+6.67% - Vegas
0.00% - Happy Endings
0.00% - Private Practice

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+133.33% - The Voice (vs. Saturday Night Live Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas (Repeat))
+65.00% - NCIS (vs. NCIS (Repeat))
+50.00% - Private Practice (vs. Body of Proof (Repeat))
+38.10% - NCIS: Los Angeles (vs. NCIS: Los Angeles (Repeat))
+10.00% - Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 (vs. Suburgatory (Repeat))
0.00% - Happy Endings (vs. The Middle (Repeat))
-5.88% - Vegas (vs. Unforgettable (Repeat))

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

* "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" delivered its strongest Tuesday results in metered-market households (a 3.5 rating, 9 share) since President Obama was a guest on October 25, 2011 (4.1/11). Jay's guests last night included Quentin Tarantino, LeAnn Rimes

* At 12:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.8/6 in metered-market households) earned its highest Tuesday rating since President Obama appeared on the April 24, 2012 telecast (1.8/6) and matched its highest Tuesday result since March 2, 2010 (1.9/7) during Jay Leno's first week back on "Tonight." Jimmy's guests last night included Tom Cruise, Judd Apatow, and musical guest Trans-Siberian Orchestra

* At 1:35 a.m. ET, "Last Call With Carson Daly" (1.1/4 in metered-market households) scored its top Tuesday rating since April 24 (1.1/5).

* In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 3.5/9; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.5/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.1/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/5.

* In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.3/6; "Late Show," 0.6/3; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

* At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.8/6 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 1.1/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (12/20/11):

NBC (5.80 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.0, #1) slipped into the top demo spot on Tuesday thanks to night two of "Who's Still Standing?" (5.83 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #4) and an encore of "Saturday Night Live Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas" (5.79 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T1).

CBS (10.58 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.9, #2) however was still the most-watched network despite an all-repeat lineup of "NCIS" (12.35 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.0, #3), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (11.36 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T1) and "Unforgettable" (8.03 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.7, #5).

Next up was ABC (4.68 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #3) with its repeat mix of "Last Man Standing" (5.72 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.4, #7), another "Last Man Standing" (5.51 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.6, #6), "The Middle" (4.31 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.3, #8), "Suburgatory" (3.43 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T11) and "Body of Proof" (4.54 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.8, #13).

Meanwhile, FOX (2.99 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #4) offered up repeats of "Glee" (3.28 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T9), "New Girl" (2.76 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T9) and "Raising Hope" (2.66 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T11).

And finally, repeats of "90210" (0.76 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T14) and "Ringer" (0.66 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T14) on The CW (0.71 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) closed out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "90210" delivered a 0.4 rating while "Ringer" posted a 0.3 rating.

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
-14.29% - Who's Still Standing? (vs. Minute to Win It)

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," 2.6/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.9/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.3/4 with an encore.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.0/5; "Late Show," 0.6/3; "Nightline," 0.8/3; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.4/2 with an encore.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.7/6 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 1.1/4 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