nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for wednesday, february 23, 2011)

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

FOX (22.60 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.9, #1) was usual was the network to beat on Wednesday with another two-hour "American Idol" (22.60 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.9, #1).

CBS (11.51 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #2) then took home the silver with week two of "Survivor: Redemption Island" (11.16 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.3, #4), "Criminal Minds" (13.44 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.4, #3) and "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" (9.92 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T5).

Next up was ABC (6.75 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #3) and its mix of "The Middle" (8.07 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T7), "Better With You" (5.58 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.8, #9), "Modern Family" (10.35 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 4.1, #2), "Mr. Sunshine" (6.46 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T7) and "Off the Map" (4.89 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.7, #10).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.42 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) offered up its lineup of "Minute to Win It #1" (3.90 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T12), "Minute to Win It #2" (4.31 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.3, #11) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (8.04 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.5, #T5).

And finally, the return of "America's Next Top Model" (2.25 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T12) led into the debut of "Shedding for the Wedding" (1.15 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.5, #14) on The CW (1.70 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Minute to Win It #2 (30.00%), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (13.60%), Off the Map (13.30%), Criminal Minds (6.30%), The Middle (4.30%), Survivor: Redemption Island (3.10%), Better With You (0.00%), Minute to Win It #1 (0.00%), American Idol (-2.50%), Modern Family (-4.70%), Mr. Sunshine (-7.70%), Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (-24.20%).

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," 2.9/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.7/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.8/7; 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," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.8/4; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/5 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" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/4 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 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (2/24/10):

A two-hour "American Idol" (22.80 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 8.6, #1) dethroned the "Winter Olympics 2010" (19.48 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 5.2, #2) on Wednesday as FOX (22.80 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 8.6, #1) claimed the top spot over NBC (19.48 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 5.2, #2).

The rest of the night was devoted to repeats as CBS (6.34 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #3) offered up its mix of "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (4.37 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T10), "Gary Unmarried" (3.36 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.9, #12), "Criminal Minds" (7.27 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #3) and "CSI: NY" (7.88 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T4).

Next up was ABC (3.66 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #4) with its combination of "Modern Family" (3.94 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.2, #9), "The Middle" (3.98 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T6), another "Modern Family" (4.52 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T4), another "The Middle" (3.54 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T6), "Cougar Town" (3.31 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T6) and another "Cougar Town" (2.67 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T10).

And finally, repeats of "Life Unexpected" (1.05 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.4, #13) and "Gossip Girl" (0.59 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.2, #14) on The CW (1.10 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research