nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, may 10, 2011)

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

NBC (7.97 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.3, #1) took home the demo crown on Tuesday thanks to new episodes of "The Biggest Loser" (6.80 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.6, #6) and "The Voice" (10.29 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 4.6, #1).

CBS (14.48 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.8, #2) then had to settle once again for second place with its mix of "NCIS" (17.10 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.5, #3), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (14.75 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.8, #5) - both season lows - and "The Good Wife" (11.59 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T9).

Next up was FOX (6.72 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.7, #3) with fresh installments of "Glee" (9.09 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.6, #2), "Raising Hope" (5.45 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.2, #7) and the departing "Traffic Light" (3.26 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.4, #11). Both comedies posted their best numbers since 3/15/11.

Meanwhile, ABC (12.82 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #4) offered up another "Dancing With the Stars Recap" (11.05 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T9) followed by new episodes of "Dancing With the Stars" (17.11 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.2, #4) and "Body of Proof" (10.30 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.1, #8).

And finally, new episodes of "One Tree Hill" (1.38 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.6, #12) and "Hellcats" (1.22 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.5, #13) on The CW (1.30 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Hellcats (25.00%), Traffic Light (16.70%), Raising Hope (15.80%), Dancing With the Stars (10.30%), Body of Proof (5.00%), Glee (0.00%), NCIS (0.00%), The Biggest Loser (0.00%), One Tree Hill (0.00%), NCIS: Los Angeles (-3.40%), The Good Wife (-16.70%), The Voice (-17.90%).

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," 3.3/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.9/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.6/9; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.8/6.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.2/5; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 1.2/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

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" (1.3/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.8/5 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.0/4 with an encore in metered-market households and a 0.5/4 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 (5/11/10):

Fresh installments of "American Idol" (18.70 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.6, #1) and "Glee" (11.69 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 4.8, #2) lifted FOX (15.19 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 5.7, #1) to the adults 18-49 crown on Tuesday.

Taking top viewership honors then was CBS (15.26 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.2, #2) with new episodes of "NCIS" (16.93 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.8, #4), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (15.92 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.3, #6) and "The Good Wife" (12.94 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T8).

Next up was NBC (7.59 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.1, #3) with first-runs of "The Biggest Loser" (8.42 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.4, #5) and "Parenthood" (5.94 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.6, #7).

Meanwhile, ABC (9.54 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.0, #4) offered up new episodes of "Dancing With the Stars" (12.40 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T8), "Lost" (10.24 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 4.0, #3) and "V" (5.98 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.4, #10).

And finally, a new "90210" (1.48 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.7, #11) lead into a repeat of "Life Unexpected" (0.81 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #12) on The CW (1.14 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5).

Source: Nielsen Media Research