NBC's AMERICA'S GOT TALENT Tops 2012 Finale

NBC ranked #1 for the night in total viewers with the #1 show of the night by that measure, "America's Got Talent," which hit a season high for a Wednesday telecast.

From 9-11 p.m. ET, the season finale of "America's Got Talent" (2.5/7 in 18-49, 11.3 million viewers overall) topped the show's year-ago finale by 4% in 18-49 rating (with a 2.5 vs. a 2.4 from 8-10 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012) and by 7% in total viewers (11.344 million vs. 10.590 million).

"America's Got Talent" is up week to week by 14% in 18-49 rating (to a 2.5 from a 2.2) and up 13% in total viewers (11.344 million vs. 10.082 million). It's the top Wednesday "Talent" in six weeks (since August 7, 2.5) and matches the highest Wednesday rating since July 17 (2.9). In total viewers, the 11.3 million is a Wednesday season high.

Facing CBS's season premiere of "Survivor" and season finale of "Big Brother," "Talent" is tied for #1 from 9-11 p.m. and #1 outright among the Big 4 networks in total viewers, adults, men and women 18-34 and adults, men and women 25-54.

From 8-9 p.m. ET, "The Million Second Quiz" (1.2/4 in 18-49, 4.9 million viewers overall) delivered night-to-night growth in 18-49 rating for a third consecutive night, having generated this track since last Saturday: 0.6, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2.

Last night's 1.2 rating tops the show's prior five telecasts.

"Million Second Quiz" grew half-hour to half-hour in 18-49 rating for an eighth straight telecast (up 9% from its first half-hour to its second, to a 1.2 from a 1.1), and that's despite facing the season premiere of "Survivor" plus week two of "X Factor."

In Late-Night Metered Markets Wednesday night:

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 3.1/9; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 1.8/5 with an encore; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.7/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.0/5; "Late Show," 0.5/3 with an encore; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.0/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/3 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.6/6 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (0.9/3). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

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.

NOTE: All ratings are "live plus same day" from Nielsen Media Research unless otherwise indicated.