nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for monday, february 7, 2011)

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

CBS (11.53 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.5, #1) claimed top honors on Monday with its usual mix of "How I Met Your Mother" (10.11 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.8, #3), "Rules of Engagement" (9.48 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.2, #5), "Two and a Half Men" (15.13 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.4, #1), "Mike & Molly" (12.74 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.6, #4) and "Hawaii Five-0" (10.86 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.8, #7).

FOX (10.86 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.4, #2) then took home the silver with a new "House" (12.32 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.3, #2) followed by the launch of "The Chicago Code" (9.40 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.4, #9). The new drama combo gave FOX its highest non-sports Monday night so far this season among adults 18-49 and total viewers.

Next up was ABC (9.58 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.9, #3) with its mix of "The Bachelor" (9.74 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.1, #6) and "Castle" (9.26 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.5, #8).

Meanwhile, NBC (6.37 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) offered up new episodes of "Chuck" (5.42 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T10), "The Cape" (4.56 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.3, #12) and "Harry's Law" (9.14 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T10). Said numbers marked series lows for "The Cape" and "Harry's Law." Nevertheless, in its four weeks on the air, "Harry's Law" has earned NBC's four best 18-49 ratings in the time period since November 1, 2010 and attracted the network's four biggest overall audiences in the slot, excluding Olympics, in 16 months.

And finally, The CW (1.71 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5) did the same with "90210" (1.78 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.9, #13) and "Gossip Girl" (1.63 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.8, #14).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): House (16.20% vs. 1/24/11), 90210 (12.50%), Castle (4.20% vs. 1/24/11), Gossip Girl (0.00%), Chuck (0.00%), Rules of Engagement (0.00% vs. 1/17/11), How I Met Your Mother (-2.60% vs. 1/17/11), The Bachelor (-3.10%), Hawaii Five-0 (-3.40% vs. 1/17/11), Two and a Half Men (-4.30% vs. 1/17/11), Mike & Molly (-5.30% vs. 1/17/11), The Cape (-13.30%), Harry's Law (-19.00%).

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," 3.2/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 3.1/8; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.0/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.4/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.0/5; "Late Show," 0.9/4; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/5 in metered-market households) tied CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.4/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.5/3).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.3/3 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 (2/8/10):

CBS (13.34 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.4, #1) was the network to beat on Monday thanks to new episodes of "How I Met Your Mother" (10.11 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.8, #6), "Accidentally on Purpose" (9.23 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 3.4, #7), "Two and a Half Men" (17.55 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.7, #2), "The Big Bang Theory" (16.20 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 6.0, #1) and "CSI: Miami" (13.46 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.9, #5).

FOX (11.86 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.2, #2) then took a competitive silver with new episodes of "House" (13.55 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 5.1, #3) and "24" (10.18 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.2, #8).

Next up was ABC (11.38 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.6, #3) with fresh installments of "The Bachelor" (12.33 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 4.1, #4) and "Castle" (9.48 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.6, #9).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.11 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #4) offered up a new "Chuck" (6.60 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.3, #10), the season finale of "Heroes" (4.41 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.1, #11) and the penultimate "The Jay Leno Show" (4.31 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.2, #12).

And finally, new episodes of "One Tree Hill" (2.22 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.1, #13) and "Life Unexpected" (2.01 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.9, #14) on The CW (2.11 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research