TV ratings: 'America's Got Talent' rises and leads Tuesday, Olympic trials solid too

Fast National ratings for Tuesday, June 26, 2012

"America's Got Talent" scored its best ratings in several weeks on Tuesday night, helping NBC score an total-viewer win in primetime. The Olympic swimming trials also posted good numbers for NBC, while "Hell's Kitchen" and "Masterchef" kept FOX competitive in adults 18-49.

NBC averaged 7.8 million viewers and a 4.8 rating/8 share in households for the evening, topping CBS' 6.7 million and 4.5/8. FOX (5.3 million, 3.2/5) came in third. ABC (2.6 million, 1.8/3) took fourth with a night of repeats. The CW drew a paltry 436,000 viewers and a 0.3/1.

FOX and NBC tied for the lead in the 18-49 demographic, each posting a 2.2 rating. CBS came in third with a rating half as big (1.1), while ABC, 0.7, and The CW, 0.2, trailed.

Tuesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.

CBS: "NCIS" rerun (7.9 million viewers, 5.3/9 households)
NBC: Olympic trials - swimming (6.95 million, 4.4/8)
FOX: "Hell's Kitchen" (5.35 million, 3.1/6)
ABC: "Last Man Standing" reruns - two episodes (3.55 million, 2.3/4)
The CW: "The Catalina" (570,000, 0.4/1)

18-49 leader: "Hell's Kitchen" (2.2)

9 p.m.

NBC: "America's Got Talent" (11.5 million, 6.9/11)
CBS: "NCIS: Los Angeles" rerun (6.4 million, 4.3/7)
FOX: "Masterchef" (5.3 million, 3.2/5)
ABC: "Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition" rerun (2 million, 1.4/2)
The CW: "The L.A. Complex" rerun (303,000, 0.2/0)

18-49 leader: "America's Got Talent" (3.2)

10 p.m.

CBS: "48 Hours Mystery" (5.7 million, 4.0/7)
NBC: "Love in the Wild" (5 million, 3.2/5)
ABC: "Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition" rerun (2.1 million, 1.6/3)

18-49 leader: "Love in the Wild" (1.6)

Ratings information includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change. Source: The Nielsen Company.

More ratings at Zap2it: Daily, weekly and cable