nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for friday, march 2, 2012)

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

ABC (5.87 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T1) and CBS (10.21 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T1) split the adults 18-49 crown on Friday as the latter offered up its mix of "Shark Tank" (6.10 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T2), "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (5.86 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T2) and "20/20" (5.66 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.6, #6).

The Eye was also the most-watched network with a new "Undercover Boss" (9.55 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.0, #1), the season finale of "A Gifted Man" (9.70 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #8) and a new "Blue Bloods" (11.40 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T2).

Next up was NBC (5.80 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #3) with fresh installments of "Who Do You Think You Are?" (7.60 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #7) - its highest 18-49 rating since March 26, 2010 and a series high in total viewers, "Grimm" (5.58 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T2) and "Dateline NBC" (4.23 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.3, #9).

Meanwhile, FOX (2.77 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4) offered up a two-hour block of "Kitchen Nightmares" (2.77 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.1, #10) repeats.

And finally, encores of "Nikita" (0.92 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T11) and "Supernatural" (1.00 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T11) on The CW (0.96 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) closed out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+50.00% - Who Do You Think You Are?
+33.33% - 20/20
+21.43% - Primetime: What Would You Do?
+13.33% - Grimm
+7.69% - A Gifted Man
+5.26% - Undercover Boss
0.00% - Blue Bloods
0.00% - Dateline NBC
-5.56% - Shark Tank

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+88.89% - Shark Tank (vs. Supernanny)
+54.55% - Primetime: What Would You Do?
+33.33% - 20/20
+33.33% - Undercover Boss (vs. The Defenders)
+25.00% - Who Do You Think You Are?
+21.43% - Blue Bloods (vs. Blue Bloods (Repeat))
0.00% - A Gifted Man (vs. CSI: NY (Repeat))
-5.56% - Grimm (vs. Dateline NBC)
-27.78% - Dateline NBC

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," 3.0/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.5/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.6/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.6/4.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: �The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,� 0.8/4; "Late Show," 0.6/3; "Nightline," 1.2/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

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" (1.2/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/2).

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 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (3/4/11):

NBC (6.55 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1) claimed to honors on Friday with a new "Who Do You Think You Are?" (6.13 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T5) and a resurgent "Dateline NBC" (6.77 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #1).

CBS (8.56 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2) then had to settle for second place with a new "The Defenders" (8.58 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #2) followed by repeats of "CSI: NY" (8.67 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T3) and "Blue Bloods" (8.44 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T3).

Next up was ABC (3.85 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #3) with fresh installments of "Supernanny" (3.33 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.9, #10), "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (3.47 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.1, #7) and "20/20" (4.75 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T5).

Meanwhile, The CW (2.23 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #4) offered up new episodes of "Smallville" (2.24 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T8) and "Supernatural" (2.22 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T8).

And finally, coverage of "The 42nd Annual NAACP Image Awards" (2.34 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.6, #11) on FOX (2.34 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Dateline NBC (28.60%), The Defenders (25.00%), Who Do You Think You Are? (0.00%), Smallville (0.00%), Supernatural (0.00%), Supernanny (-10.00%), Primetime: What Would You Do? (-15.40%), 20/20 (-20.00%).

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," 3.1/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.5/6 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.7/6; 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," 1.1/5; "Late Show," 0.6/2 with an encore; "Nightline," 0.8/3; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3 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" (1.3/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.8/5 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.

Source: Nielsen Media Research