nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for friday, february 24, 2012)

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

CBS (9.62 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1) pulled back in front on Friday with new episodes of "Undercover Boss" (8.63 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.9, #1), "A Gifted Man" (9.07 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T7) and "Blue Bloods" (11.17 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #3).

ABC (5.08 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #2) however remained a competitive second place with fresh installments of "Shark Tank" (5.89 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #2), "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (4.63 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.4, #6) and "20/20" (4.73 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.2, #9).

Next up was NBC (4.91 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T3) with originals from "Who Do You Think You Are?" (4.98 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.0, #11), "Grimm" (4.75 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T4) and "Dateline NBC" (5.00 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T7).

Meanwhile, FOX (3.29 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T3) served up new episodes of "Kitchen Nightmares" (3.48 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T4) and "Fringe" (3.09 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.2, #10), both of which will resume their original runs on March 23.

And finally, repeats of "Nikita" (1.22 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T12) and "Supernatural" (1.05 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T12) on The CW (1.13 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) closed out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+20.00% - Shark Tank
+18.18% - Dateline NBC
+15.38% - Kitchen Nightmares
+9.09% - Fringe
+6.25% - Blue Bloods
-6.25% - Grimm (vs. 2/10/12)
-6.67% - Primetime: What Would You Do? (vs. 2/10/12)
-13.33% - A Gifted Man
-16.67% - Who Do You Think You Are? (vs. 2/10/12)
-20.83% - Undercover Boss
-40.00% - 20/20

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+80.00% - Shark Tank (vs. Supernanny)
+58.33% - Undercover Boss (vs. The Defenders)
+7.69% - Primetime: What Would You Do?
+7.14% - Grimm (vs. Dateline NBC)
+0.00% - Blue Bloods
-6.25% - Kitchen Nightmares
-7.14% - Dateline NBC
-16.67% - Who Do You Think You Are?
-20.00% - Fringe
-20.00% - 20/20
-23.53% - A Gifted Man (vs. CSI: NY)

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," 2.3/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.1/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.4/4.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.1/5; "Late Show," 0.6/3; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.8/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.1/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.7/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.1/4 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

[NOTE: Today's numbers are courtesy of TVMediaInsights.com due to delays from our usual sources.]

Here are the highlights of the 17 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (2/25/11):

CBS (10.38 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T1) and FOX (3.88 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T1) were neck and neck last night as the latter offered up new episodes of "Kitchen Nightmares" (3.72 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.6, #3) and "Fringe" (4.04 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T4).

The Eye then served up its mix of "The Defenders" (8.72 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T8), "CSI: NY" (10.83 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T1) and "Blue Bloods" (11.58 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T1).

Next up was NBC (5.88 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T3) with new episodes of "Who Do You Think You Are?" (6.15 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T8) and "Dateline NBC" (5.75 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.4, #6).

Meanwhile, ABC (4.75 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T3) shared the bronze with its combination of "Supernanny" (4.04 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T10), "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (4.67 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.3, #7) and "20/20" (5.54 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T4).

And finally, new episodes of "Smallville" (2.55 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T10) and "Supernatural" (2.17 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T10) on The CW (2.36 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5) closed out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): 20/20 (25.00%), Blue Bloods (6.30%), Fringe (0.00%), Supernanny (0.00%), Smallville (0.00%), CSI: NY (-5.60%), Kitchen Nightmares (-5.90%), Who Do You Think You Are? (-7.70%), Supernatural (-9.10%), Dateline NBC (-12.50%), The Defenders (-14.30%), Primetime: What Would You Do? (-18.80%).

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

Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 3.1/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.8/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.9/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.3/4 with an encore.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.8/3; "Nightline," 0.8/3; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/2 with an encore.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.7/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.4/4). 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 0.4/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research