nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for monday, february 28, 2011)

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

ABC (10.59 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.2, #1) clinged to the top spot on Monday with new episodes of "The Bachelor" (11.21 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.4, #T2) and "Castle" (10.15 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.8, #6).

FOX (9.52 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #2) then snagged a competitive silver with fresh installments of "House" (10.97 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.8, #1) and "The Chicago Code" (8.07 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.1, #8).

Meanwhile, CBS (9.11 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.8, #2) offered up its mix of "How I Met Your Mother" (9.27 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.4, #T2), "Mad Love" (7.96 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.7, #7), a repeat of "Two and a Half Men" (11.57 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.2, #5), "Mike & Molly" (11.42 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.4, #T2) and a repeat of "Hawaii Five-0" (7.23 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.9, #9).

Next up was NBC (6.19 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #4) with new episodes of "Chuck" (5.35 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.7, #11), the departing "The Cape" (4.06 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.1, #12) and "Harry's Law" (9.15 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.8, #10).

And finally, new episodes of "90210" (1.44 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T13) and "Gossip Girl" (1.38 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T13) on The CW (1.41 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): House (8.60%), Castle (7.70%), Mike & Molly (6.30%), Harry's Law (5.90%), The Bachelor (0.00%), The Chicago Code (0.00%), Chuck (0.00%), 90210 (0.00%), Mad Love (-3.60%), How I Met Your Mother (-5.60%), The Cape (-8.30%), Gossip Girl (-12.50%).

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," 3.0/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.6/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.3/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.6/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.8/3; "Nightline," 1.1/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/5 in metered-market households) tied CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.3/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49) topped "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 with an encore and a 0.3/2 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 (3/1/10):

ABC (14.75 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.3, #1) kicked off March with a victory thanks to the two-hour "The Bachelor" (14.98 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 5.2, #4) and a "The Bachelor: After the Final Rose" (14.30 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 5.4, #3) reunion special.

CBS (12.79 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.3, #2) then claimed the silver with a new "How I Met Your Mother" (10.48 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 3.9, #5), the return of "Rules of Engagement" (9.81 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.5, #6) and new episodes of "Two and a Half Men" (16.75 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.7, #2), "The Big Bang Theory" (15.61 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 5.9, #1) and "CSI: Miami" (12.01 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.4, #7).

Next up was FOX (7.63 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.3, #3) with a repeat of "House" (6.70 million viewers, #T11; adults 18-49: 2.2, #10) followed by a new "24" (8.56 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.6, #8).

Meanwhile, NBC (7.38 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.1, #4) offered up fresh installments of "Chuck" (6.70 million viewers, #T11; adults 18-49: 2.5, #9), "Law & Order" (7.59 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.0, #12) and another "Law & Order" (7.86 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.1, #11).

And finally, a repeat of "Life Unexpected" (1.44 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.6, #14) and a new "Life Unexpected" (1.88 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.8, #13) on The CW (1.66 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research