nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for friday, may 13, 2011)

Here are the highlights of the 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

CBS (9.71 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.5, #1) inched its way to the top spot on Friday thanks to a new "Flashpoint" (7.51 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T5) and the season finales of "CSI: NY" (10.22 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T1) and "Blue Bloods" (11.41 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T1).

FOX (3.46 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2) then snagged the silver with a new "Kitchen Nightmares" (3.69 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T1) followed by an encore of "Kitchen Nightmares" (3.23 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T5).

Next up was The CW (2.97 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T3) with the series finale of "Smallville" (2.97 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T5), its most-watched installment since its landmark 200th episode (3.19 million on October 15).

Sharing the bronze was ABC (4.36 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T3) with the season finale of "Shark Tank" (5.00 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T5) and fresh installments of "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (3.71 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T9) and "20/20" (4.37 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T9).

And finally, new episodes of "Friday Night Lights" (2.80 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.7, #11) and "Dateline NBC" (5.62 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #4) on NBC (4.77 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #5) closed out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Smallville (62.50%), Flashpoint (18.20%), Shark Tank (8.30%), Blue Bloods (0.00%), CSI: NY (0.00%), Primetime: What Would You Do? (0.00%), Kitchen Nightmares (-6.30%), Dateline NBC (-12.50%), Friday Night Lights (-12.50%), 20/20 (-29.40%).

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

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets (the Birmingham market is delayed), household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 3.0/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.6/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.1/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.4/4 with an encore.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/4; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 1.1/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/2 with an encore.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/5 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" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/2).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 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 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (5/14/10):

ABC (5.66 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.7, #1) pulled in front on Friday thanks to new episodes of "Wife Swap" (4.32 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T7), "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (6.03 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T1) and "20/20" (6.64 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T1).

The silver then went to CBS (6.19 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2) with new episodes of "Ghost Whisperer" (6.43 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T3), "Medium" (6.22 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T3) and "Miami Medical" (5.93 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.2, #9).

Next up was NBC (5.09 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3) with a new-to-NBC "Friday Night Lights" (3.97 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T7) followed by a two-hour "Dateline NBC" (5.65 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.4, #6).

Meanwhile, FOX (3.33 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4) had a repeat of "House" (3.06 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T10) and a new "Kitchen Nightmares" (3.61 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T3).

And finally, the season finale of "Smallville" (2.45 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T10) lead into a repeat of "America's Next Top Model" (0.96 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.4, #12) on The CW (1.70 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5).

Source: Nielsen Media Research