nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for friday, april 6, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

CBS (9.15 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #1) was the network to beat on a low key Friday with its mix of "Undercover Boss" (7.75 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.8, #1), "CSI: NY" (8.95 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T3) and "Blue Bloods" (10.76 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #2).

A silver medal then went to ABC (4.81 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2) with a repeat of "Shark Tank" (4.41 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T6) followed by new episodes of "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (4.87 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T3) and "20/20" (5.13 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #5).

Next up was NBC (4.37 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T3) and its combination of "Who Do You Think You Are?" (4.53 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.8, #11), "Grimm" (4.47 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T6) and "Dateline NBC" (4.09 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T8).

Meanwhile, FOX (3.50 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T3) offered up the relocated "The Finder" (3.92 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T8) - a series low - plus a new "Fringe" (3.08 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.0, #10).

And finally, repeats of "Nikita" (1.01 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T12) and "Supernatural" (0.83 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T12) on The CW (0.92 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) closed out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+8.33% - Grimm
+6.67% - Primetime: What Would You Do?
+6.25% - Blue Bloods
0.00% - Undercover Boss
0.00% - Who Do You Think You Are?
0.00% - CSI: NY
-8.33% - Dateline NBC
-16.67% - Fringe
-28.57% - 20/20
-52.17% - The Finder (vs. 3/8/12)

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+100.00% - Undercover Boss (vs. Chaos)
+66.67% - Fringe (vs. Fringe (Repeat))
+14.29% - Primetime: What Would You Do?
+13.33% - Blue Bloods
0.00% - CSI: NY
0.00% - 20/20
-7.14% - Grimm (vs. Dateline NBC)
-8.33% - The Finder (vs. Kitchen Nightmares (Repeat))
-21.43% - Dateline NBC
-38.46% - Who Do You Think You Are?

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; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 1.6/4 with an encore delayed by Masters coverage; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.4/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.6/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/3; "Late Show," 0.4/2 with an encore delayed by Masters coverage; "Nightline," 1.1/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.7/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.6/5 in metered-market household) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.0/3 delayed by Masters coverage). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-4) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2 delayed by Masters coverage).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.0/4 in metered-market households 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 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (4/8/11):

ABC (4.74 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #1) took home the adults 18-49 crown on Friday thanks to new episodes of "Shark Tank" (4.63 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T7), "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (4.49 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T4) and "20/20" (5.09 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T2).

CBS (8.46 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T2) and NBC (5.63 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T2) then split the silver as the latter offered up the season finale of "Who Do You Think You Are?" (5.76 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #6) and a two-hour "Dateline NBC" (5.58 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T4).

Next up was the Eye with week two of its mix of "Chaos" (5.64 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #9), "CSI: NY" (9.42 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1) and "Blue Bloods" (10.31 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T2).

Meanwhile, FOX (2.37 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #4) offered up repeats of "Kitchen Nightmares" (2.94 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T7) and "Fringe" (1.80 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T11).

And finally, The CW (1.72 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5) did the same with repeats of "Smallville" (1.91 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.7, #10) and "Supernatural" (1.52 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T11).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Dateline NBC (9.80%), Primetime: What Would You Do? (7.70% vs. 3/25/11), Who Do You Think You Are? (0.00%), Shark Tank (0.00%), 20/20 (-1.60%), CSI: NY (-5.90%), Blue Bloods (-11.80%), Chaos (-18.20%).

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," 3.1/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.1/5 with an encore delayed by golf; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.0/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.3/4.

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

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" (1.4/5 delayed by golf). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.7/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3 delayed by golf).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.0/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research