nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for friday, march 9, 2012)

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

CBS (11.04 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.0, #1) was the network to beat on Friday with a new "Undercover Boss" (10.02 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #1), a special "The Mentalist" (11.83 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.0, #2) and a new "Blue Bloods" (11.26 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.8, #3).

ABC (4.72 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2) then snagged the silver with its mix of "Shark Tank" (5.38 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T4), "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (4.21 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.2, #8) and "20/20" (4.55 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.3, #7).

Next up was NBC (5.08 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3) with originals of "Who Do You Think You Are?" (5.05 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.0, #10), "Grimm" (5.15 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T4) and "Dateline NBC" (5.03 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.4, #6).

Meanwhile, FOX (2.83 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4) offered up a two-hour block of "Kitchen Nightmares" (2.83 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.1, #9).

And finally, repeats of "Nikita" (1.15 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #12) and "Supernatural" (1.16 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.4, #11) on The CW (1.15 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) closed out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+10.00% - Undercover Boss
+7.69% - Dateline NBC
+5.88% - Blue Bloods
-11.76% - Shark Tank
-11.76% - Grimm
-18.75% - 20/20
-29.41% - Primetime: What Would You Do?
-33.33% - Who Do You Think You Are?

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+46.67% - Undercover Boss (vs. The Defenders)
+36.36% - Shark Tank (vs. Supernanny)
+11.11% - Who Do You Think You Are? (vs. Who Do You Think You Are? (Repeat))
0.00% - The Mentalist (vs. CSI: NY)
-5.26% - Blue Bloods
-11.76% - Grimm (vs. Dateline NBC)
-14.29% - Primetime: What Would You Do?
-17.65% - Dateline NBC
-18.75% - 20/20

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," 2.6/6 with an encore telecast; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.6/6 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.1/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/4 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 with an encore; "Late Show," 0.6/2 with an encore; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3 with an encore.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/5 in metered-market households with an encore) beat CBS's original "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.3/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/3 in 18-49 with an encore) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/2).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/4 with an encore in metered-market households and a 0.4/2 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 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (3/11/11):

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):

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 2.9/7 with an encore telecast; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.5/6 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.9/9; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/4 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 with an encore; "Late Show," 0.7/3 with an encore; "Nightline," 1.4/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.7/3 with an encore.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/4 in metered-market households with an encore) beat CBS's first-run "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 with an encore) topped "Late Late Show" (0.5/3).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.4/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research