nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for thursday, may 16, 2013)

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

FOX (13.608 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.4, #1) was still the network to beat on Thursday with part one of the "American Idol" (12.290 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.0, #T5) finale and part two of the "American Idol" (14.927 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.9, #2) finale.

CBS (10.353 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.6, #2) then claimed the silver with the season finale of "The Big Bang Theory" (14.776 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.4, #1), a repeat of "The Big Bang Theory" (11.636 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.2, #T3) and a new "Elementary" (9.107 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.1, #10) plus the season finale of "Elementary" (8.747 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.9, #12).

Next up was ABC (7.194 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #3) with a new "Wipeout" (3.815 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T13) alongside the season closers to "Grey's Anatomy" (8.633 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.0, #T5) and "Scandal" (9.134 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.2, #T3).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.436 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #4) offered up its one-hour "The Office Retrospective" (4.372 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.0, #11) plus part one of "The Office" (5.471 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.9, #T7) finale, part two of "The Office" (5.353 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.9, #T7), "The Office/Hannibal" (4.574 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.3, #9) and "Hannibal" (2.471 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T13).

And finally, the season finales of "The Vampire Diaries" (2.198 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T13) and "Beauty and the Beast" (1.335 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.5, #16) closed out the evening on The CW (1.767 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Diaries" delivered a 1.6 rating at 8:00/7:00c and "Beast" a 0.5 rating at 9:00/8:00c.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+31.82% - The Office
+11.11% - The Vampire Diaries
+7.14% - American Idol
+5.56% - Elementary
+3.45% - Grey's Anatomy
0.00% - Scandal
0.00% - Beauty and the Beast
-4.35% - The Big Bang Theory
-9.09% - Hannibal
-16.67% - Wipeout

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+233.33% - The Vampire Diaries (vs. Perez Hilton All Access: Katy Perry)
+228.57% - The Office/Hannibal (vs. Awake)
+150.00% - Beauty and the Beast (vs. The Vampire Diaries (Repeat))
+123.08% - The Office - 9:00 (vs. Community)
+123.08% - The Office - 9:30 (vs. Community)
+116.67% - American Idol - 9:00 (vs. Touch)
+83.33% - The Big Bang Theory (vs. The Big Bang Theory (Repeat))
+53.85% - The Office Retrospective (vs. Community/30 Rock)
+42.86% - Hannibal (vs. Awake)
+33.33% - Scandal
-16.00% - Elementary - 9:00 (vs. Person of Interest)
-23.08% - Grey's Anatomy
-23.08% - Wipeout (vs. Missing)
-24.00% - Elementary - 10:00 (vs. The Mentalist)
-28.57% - American Idol - 8:00

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," 2.3/6; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.2/6.

* In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 Wednesday results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.4/2; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.0/5.

* From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET Wednesday night, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.3/4 in metered-market households and a 0.6/3 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

* From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.2/4 in metered-market households) tied CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/4). 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 0.8/3 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 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (5/17/12):

FOX (11.09 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #1) took home top honors on the final Thursday of the May sweeps period with new episodes of "American Idol" (15.85 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.2, #1) and "Touch" (6.34 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.8, #8).

ABC (8.39 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.5, #2) then claimed the silver with its season finales of "Missing" (6.49 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T9), "Grey's Anatomy" (11.15 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.9, #2) and "Scandal" (7.52 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T5).

Next up was CBS (11.37 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.4, #3) with a repeat of "The Big Bang Theory" (8.30 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T5) followed by the respective season finales of "Rules of Engagement" (7.28 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.1, #7), "Person of Interest" (13.35 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T3) and "The Mentalist" (12.96 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T3).

Meanwhile, NBC (2.53 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4) offered up its mix of "Community" (2.99 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T9), the season finale of "30 Rock" (2.85 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T9), another new "Community" (2.60 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T9), the season finale of "Community" (2.49 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T9) - all three episodes of which matched its series low - and the penultimate week of "Awake" (2.11 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.7, #14).

And finally, The CW (0.84 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) closed out the evening with its special "Perez Hilton All Access: Katy Perry" (0.97 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.3, #15) plus a repeat of "The Vampire Diaries" (0.71 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.2, #16). 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):
+20.00% - Scandal
+18.18% - Missing
+14.71% - Grey's Anatomy
+7.69% - American Idol
+4.17% - The Mentalist
-3.85% - Person of Interest
-7.14% - Community
-10.00% - Touch
-13.33% - 30 Rock
-22.22% - Rules of Engagement
-22.22% - Awake

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+18.18% - Community - 8:00 (vs. The Office (Repeat))
+14.71% - Grey's Anatomy
-4.00% - Scandal (vs. Private Practice)
-7.41% - The Mentalist
-7.41% - Person of Interest (vs. The Mentalist (S))
-13.33% - 30 Rock (vs. The Office (Repeat)
-16.00% - Rules of Engagement
-23.53% - Missing (vs. Spring Wipeout)
-32.26% - American Idol
-40.00% - Perez Hilton All Access: Katy Perry (vs. Smallville (Repeat))
-43.75% - Touch (vs. Bones)
-65.79% - Community - 9:00 (vs. The Office)
-65.79% - Community - 9:30 (vs. The Office)
-68.18% - Awake (vs. Parks & Recreation (S)/Parks & Recreation (S))

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," 3.0/8; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.4/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.6/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.7/3; "Late Show," 0.8/4; "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) trailed CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.5/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49) tied "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