nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for thursday, february 17, 2011)

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

FOX (15.95 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.4, #1) was once again the network to beat on Thursday with new episodes of "American Idol" (21.94 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.5, #1) and "Bones" (9.95 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.3, #T4).

CBS (13.11 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #2) then took home the silver with a new "The Big Bang Theory" (12.48 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.7, #T2), the season finale of "Bleep My Dad Says" (9.78 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.6, #8) and new episodes of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (13.27 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.9, #7) and "The Mentalist" (14.94 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #6).

Next up was ABC (7.75 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.7, #3) with fresh installments of "Wipeout" (6.19 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.9, #12), "Grey's Anatomy" (10.20 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.7, #T2) and "Private Practice" (6.85 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.4, #9).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.21 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.0, #4) offered up its mix of "Community" (4.16 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.8, #13), "Perfect Couples" (3.05 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T15), "The Office" (6.41 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 3.3, #T4), "Parks & Recreation" (4.39 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.3, #10), "30 Rock" (4.06 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 2.0, #11) and "Outsourced" (3.21 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.5, #14). All six half-hours either tied or set season lows (excluding the Monday preview for "Perfect Couples").

And finally, new episodes of "The Vampire Diaries" (3.01 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T15) and "Nikita" (2.14 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 0.8, #17) on The CW (2.57 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.1, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): The Vampire Diaries (16.70%), Nikita (14.30%), American Idol (4.20%), CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (3.60%), The Mentalist (3.40%), Bones (0.00%), Community (0.00%), Bleep My Dad Says (-3.70%), The Big Bang Theory (-5.10%), Grey's Anatomy (-5.10%), Perfect Couples (-6.70%), The Office (-8.30%), Private Practice (-11.10%), Parks & Recreation (-11.50%), Outsourced (-11.80%), 30 Rock (-13.00%), Wipeout (-13.60%).

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

Nielsen's 56 metered markets (with four markets excluded today), household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 2.7/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 3.2/8; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.0/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.4/4.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/4; "Late Show," 0.9/4; "Nightline," 1.1/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.2/4 in metered-market households) trailed CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.6/6). 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 0.7/3 in metered-market households and a 0.3/2 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 (2/18/10):

NBC (25.29 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.1, #1) was the network to beat on Thursday with night six of its "Winter Games 2010" (25.29 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.1, #1) coverage.

The silver then went to CBS (9.55 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T2) with a new "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains" (11.94 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.9, #2) followed by repeats of "The Mentalist" (8.82 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.9, #5) and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (7.90 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.7, #6).

Next up was ABC (7.36 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T2) with fresh installments of "The Deep End" (4.26 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T8), "Grey's Anatomy" (10.21 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.7, #3) and "Private Practice" (7.62 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.8, #4).

Meanwhile, FOX (4.61 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #4) offered up a repeat of "Bones" (5.72 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.6, #7) and a new "Past Life" (3.49 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T8).

And finally, repeats of "The Vampire Diaries" (1.70 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T10) and "Supernatural" (1.53 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T10) on The CW (1.61 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5) rounded out the night.

Source: Nielsen Media Research