nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for friday, january 21, 2011)

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

FOX (4.56 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.9, #1) snagged top adults 18-49 honors on Friday with the season premiere of "Kitchen Nightmares" (4.26 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T1) followed by the time slot debut of "Fringe" (4.86 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T1).

ABC (4.93 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2) then was bumped to second place with its usual mix of "Supernanny" (4.31 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T8), "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (5.12 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.7, #3) and "20/20" (5.37 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.5, #5).

Next up was CBS (7.19 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T3) with the series finale of "Medium" (7.77 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) followed by a repeat of "CSI: NY" (7.21 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T8) and a second repeat of "CSI: NY" (6.60 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T8).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.77 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T3) offered up another repeat of "Minute to Win It" (4.66 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.2, #7) and a new two-hour "Dateline NBC" (6.33 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #6).

And finally, repeats of "Smallville" (1.52 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.6, #11) and "Supernatural" (1.31 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.5, #12) on The CW (1.42 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Medium (23.10%), Primetime: What Would You Do? (13.30%), 20/20 (7.10%), Fringe (0.00% vs. 12/9/10), Dateline NBC (-6.70%), Supernanny (-8.30%).

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," 3.3/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.5/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.1/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.6/4 with an encore.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.0/4; "Late Show," 0.6/3; "Nightline," 1.1/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3 with an encore.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.6/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.3/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.7/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/2).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.0/4 in metered-market households and a 0.5/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/22/10):

ABC (5.22 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T1) was Friday's top draw with its coverage of "Hope for Haiti" (4.65 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T3) and a new "20/20" (6.36 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1).

Second place then went to NBC (4.65 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T1) with its "Hope for Haiti" (4.50 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T3) followed by a repeat of "Dateline NBC" (4.96 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2).

Next up was CBS (4.20 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #3) with its own "Hope for Haiti" (4.30 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T5) coverage and a repeat of "Medium" (4.01 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T5).

Meanwhile, FOX (1.75 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) offered up its "Hope for Haiti" (1.75 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #7) broadcast.

And finally, The CW (0.85 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) rounded out the evening with its "Hope for Haiti" (0.85 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #8) feed.

Source: Nielsen Media Research