nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for friday, march 11, 2011)

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

CBS (10.61 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.8, #1) returned to the top spot on Friday with the season finale of "The Defenders" (9.03 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T6) followed by new episodes of "CSI: NY" (11.04 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.0, #1) and "Blue Bloods" (11.75 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.9, #2). The latter duo return on April 1 following the Eye's NCAA tournament coverage.

FOX (3.95 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #2) then took home the silver with the return of "Kitchen Nightmares" (4.13 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T3) and "Fringe" (3.76 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T6) after a one-week break.

Next up was NBC (5.82 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T3) with a repeat of "Who Do You Think You Are?" (3.94 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.9, #10) alongside a two-hour "Dateline NBC" (6.76 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T3).

Meanwhile, ABC (4.75 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T3) offered up the penultimate week of "Supernanny" (4.01 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.1, #9) plus new episodes of "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (4.35 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.4, #8) and "20/20" (5.88 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.6, #5).

And finally, repeats of "Smallville" (1.56 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T11) and "Supernatural" (1.32 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T11) on The CW (1.44 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): 20/20 (33.30%), Primetime: What Would You Do? (27.30%), Supernanny (22.20%), CSI: NY (17.60% vs. 2/25/11), Blue Bloods (11.80% vs. 2/25/11), Kitchen Nightmares (6.30% vs. 2/25/11), The Defenders (0.00%), Fringe (0.00% vs. 2/25/11), Dateline NBC (-8.30%).

In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release):

Not yet available.

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (3/12/10):

FOX (13.37 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 4.7, #1) claimed the adults 18-49 crown last night thanks to the final Thursday editions of "American Idol" (19.15 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.2, #1) and "Kitchen Nightmares" (7.60 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 3.1, #7).

CBS (14.52 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.4, #2) then took home the silver with new episodes of "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains" (12.18 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.6, #4), "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (15.42 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.3, #6) and "The Mentalist" (16.03 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.4, #5).

Next up was NBC (5.80 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.7, #3) with fresh installments of "Community" (4.70 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.9, #12), "Parks & Recreation" (4.61 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 2.1, #11), "The Office" (7.51 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 3.8, #3), "30 Rock" (5.89 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.9, #T8) and "The Marriage Ref" (6.04 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.7, #10).

Meanwhile, ABC (7.77 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.6, #4) offered up a repeat of "Grey's Anatomy" (4.40 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.1, #13) which lead into new episodes of "Grey's Anatomy" (10.96 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.9, #2) and "Private Practice" (7.94 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.9, #T8).

And finally, repeats of "The Vampire Diaries" (1.46 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T14) and "Supernatural" (1.40 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T14) on The CW (1.43 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) rounded out the evening.

Source: Nielsen Media Research