Primetime Preliminary Fast National Nielsen Data
(includes all DVR playback through 3:00 am)

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (2/27/14):

CBS (10.544 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.5, #1) climbed to the top spot on Thursday with its mix of "The Big Bang Theory" (17.502 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.9, #1), "The Millers" (11.240 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #4), "Two and a Half Men" (10.046 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.5, #5), "The Crazy Ones" (7.422 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.9, #7) and "Elementary" (8.526 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.6, #8).

ABC (7.757 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #2) then took home the silver with its special "Countdown to the Oscars" (4.690 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T11) followed by the return of "Grey's Anatomy" (9.310 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.0, #3) and "Scandal" (9.271 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.3, #2).

Next up was FOX (6.630 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #3) with new episodes of "American Idol" (9.809 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.3, #6) and "Rake" (3.450 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.8, #15).

Meanwhile, NBC (3.160 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4) served up originals from "Community" (2.625 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T11), "Parks & Recreation" (2.456 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T11), the relocated "Hollywood Game Night" (3.387 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.2, #9) and "Parenthood" (3.553 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.1, #10).

And finally, new episodes of "The Vampire Diaries" (1.945 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.9, #14) and "Reign" (1.313 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.5, #16) on The CW (1.629 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Diaries" delivered a 1.3 rating at 8:00/7:00c and "Reign" a 0.7 rating at 9:00/8:00c.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+38.89% - Two and a Half Men (vs. 2/6/14)
+11.76% - The Crazy Ones (vs. 2/6/14)
+11.11% - Grey's Anatomy (vs. 12/12/13)
+3.70% - The Millers (vs. 2/6/14)
+3.12% - Scandal (vs. 12/12/13)
0.00% - The Vampire Diaries (vs. 2/6/14)
-2.00% - The Big Bang Theory (vs. 2/6/14)
-4.17% - American Idol
-9.09% - Community (vs. 1/30/14)
-11.11% - Elementary (vs. 2/6/14)
-15.38% - Parenthood (vs. 1/23/14)
-16.67% - Parks & Recreation (vs. 1/30/14)
-16.67% - Reign (vs. 2/6/14)
-20.00% - Rake
-20.00% - Hollywood Game Night (vs. 2/3/14)

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+312.50% - Scandal (vs. Jimmy Kimmel Live: After the Oscars (Repeat))
+233.33% - Grey's Anatomy (vs. Scandal (Repeat))
+125.00% - The Vampire Diaries (vs. The Vampire Diaries (Repeat))
+75.00% - The Big Bang Theory (vs. The Big Bang Theory (Repeat))
+66.67% - Reign (vs. Beauty and the Beast (Repeat))
+31.58% - Two and a Half Men (vs. Person of Interest (Repeat))
+27.27% - The Millers (vs. Two and a Half Men (Repeat))
+26.32% - Hollywood Game Night (vs. The Office (Repeat)/1600 Penn)
+22.22% - Parenthood (vs. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (Repeat))
+11.11% - Parks & Recreation (vs. Parks & Recreation (Repeat))
0.00% - The Crazy Ones (vs. Person of Interest (Repeat))
0.00% - Elementary (vs. Elementary (Repeat))
0.00% - Countdown to the Oscars (vs. Zero Hour)
-9.09% - Community
-39.47% - American Idol
-78.95% - Rake (vs. American Idol)

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

· In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 3.5/9; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.4/6; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 3.0/8.

· In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 1.4/7; "Late Show," 0.6/3; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.2/6.

· From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.8/6 in metered-market households and a 0.8/5 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

· From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Seth Meyers" (1.7/6 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.1/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.7/5 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

· At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 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 (2/28/13):

FOX (12.467 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.8, #1) overshadowed its mostly repeat competition on Thursday with a new two-hour "American Idol" (12.467 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.8, #1).

CBS (8.918 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.0, #2) then claimed a distant second place with its all-repeat lineup of "The Big Bang Theory" (10.693 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #2), "Two and a Half Men" (8.364 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3), "Person of Interest" (9.503 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.9, #4) and "Elementary" (7.723 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.6, #5).

Next up was ABC (3.709 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T3) with a new "Zero Hour" (5.025 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T7) followed by encores of "Scandal" (3.342 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T9) and "Jimmy Kimmel Live: After the Oscars" (2.761 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.8, #13).

Meanwhile, NBC (2.834 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T3) offered up an original "Community" (2.742 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.1, #6), repeats of "Parks & Recreation" (2.162 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T9) and "The Office" (2.259 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T7) plus a new "1600 Penn" (2.234 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T9) and a repeat of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.803 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T9).

And finally, repeats of "The Vampire Diaries" (1.135 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.4, #14) and "Beauty and the Beast" (0.797 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.3, #15) closed out the night on The CW (0.966 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "Diaries" delivered a 0.4 rating at 8:00/7:00c and "Beast" a 0.2 rating at 9:00/8:00c.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - Community
-2.56% - American Idol
-9.09% - Zero Hour
-10.00% - 1600 Penn

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
-21.43% - Community (vs. 30 Rock)
-23.08% - Zero Hour (vs. Winter Wipeout (Repeat))
-28.30% - American Idol
-43.75% - 1600 Penn (vs. Up All Night)

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," 2.4/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.3/6 with an encore; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.9/5.

* In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 Wednesday results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.7/3; "Late Show," 0.6/3 with an encore; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.8/4.

* From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.2/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/3 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

* From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/5 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" (0.4/3 in 18-49) tied "Late Late Show" (0.4/3).

* 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.

Source: Nielsen Media Research