nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for tuesday, november 30, 2010)

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

CBS (12.04 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.4, #1) edged out the competition on Tuesday with its annual broadcast of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" (12.03 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.8, #2) followed by a repeat of "NCIS" (15.06 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.0, #4) and the 2010 edition of "The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show" (9.02 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.4, #3).

FOX (8.38 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.3, #2) then had to settle for the silver with new episodes of "Glee" (11.61 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.5, #1), "Raising Hope" (6.87 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.7, #6) and "Running Wilde" (3.43 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.4, #12).

Next up was NBC (9.28 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.6, #3) with its "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" (11.26 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T9) special followed by the relocated "The Biggest Loser" (8.30 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.9, #5).

Meanwhile, ABC (6.88 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.9, #4) saw repeats of "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (6.89 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.1, #8) and "Shrek the Halls" (7.36 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.4, #7) lead into the relocated "No Ordinary Family" (6.22 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T9) and a new "Detroit 187" (7.28 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.6, #11).

And finally, new episodes of "One Tree Hill" (1.83 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.9, #13) and "Life Unexpected" (1.53 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.8, #14) on The CW (1.68 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): The Biggest Loser (20.80%), Life Unexpected (14.30% vs. 11/16/10), Raising Hope (12.50%), Glee (12.50%), Running Wilde (7.70% vs. 11/9/10), No Ordinary Family (5.60%), One Tree Hill (0.00% vs. 11/16/10), Detroit 187 (-11.10% vs. 11/16/10).

In late-night metered market ratings, ABC's "Nightline" (3.2/7) and NBC's "Leno" (3.2/8) took top honors over CBS's "Letterman" (2.2/5). Rounding out the night then were "Kimmel" (1.5/5) on ABC "Ferguson" (1.1/4) on CBS and "Fallon" (1.4/5) and "Daly" (0.8/3) on NBC.

Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (12/1/09):

NBC (9.34 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #1) claimed top honors on an Obama disrupted Tuesdays with its combination of an "NBC News Special" (8.09 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T5) and "The Biggest Loser" (9.97 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.8, #1).

Second place then went to CBS (10.54 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.4, #2) with its mix of "CBS News Special" (10.16 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.9, #9), "NCIS" (11.82 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.2, #4), "Two and a Half Men" (13.50 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.7, #3) and "Victoria's Secret Fashion Show" (8.29 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 2.8, #2).

Next up was FOX (5.49 million viewers, #T3; adults 18-49: 2.1, #3) with its "FOX News Special" (4.57 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.8, #10) followed by a new "So You Think You Can Dance" (5.73 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T5).

Meanwhile, ABC (5.49 million viewers, #T3; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) was out of the hunt with its lineup of "ABC News Special" (6.47 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.6, #11), the return of "Scrubs" (4.63 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T7), another "Scrubs" (4.46 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T7) and "The Forgotten" (5.46 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.3, #12).

And finally, new episodes of "90210" (2.21 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.2, #13) and "Melrose Place" (1.43 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.7, #14) on The CW (1.81 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research