nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for friday, april 27, 2012)

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

CBS (8.78 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.5, #1) was the network to beat on Friday with original episodes of "Undercover Boss" (7.15 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1), "CSI: NY" (8.99 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T2) and "Blue Bloods" (10.21 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T2).

The silver then went to ABC (4.80 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #2) with new episodes of "Shark Tank" (5.41 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T2), "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (4.04 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T7) and "20/20" (4.96 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T2).

Next up was NBC (4.60 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #3) and its combination of "Who Do You Think You Are?" (5.21 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #11), "Grimm" (4.49 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T2) and "Dateline NBC" (4.09 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T7).

Meanwhile, FOX (3.35 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #4) served up fresh installments of "The Finder" (3.94 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T7) and "Fringe" (3.14 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T7).

And finally, new episodes of "Nikita" (1.32 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.4, #13) and "Supernatural" (1.53 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.6, #12) on The CW (1.26 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) closed out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+25.00% - Who Do You Think You Are? (vs. 4/6/12)
+10.00% - Fringe
+7.69% - 20/20
+7.69% - Grimm
0.00% - Supernatural
0.00% - Nikita
-5.88% - Undercover Boss (vs. 4/13/12)
-8.33% - The Finder
-12.50% - CSI: NY (vs. 4/6/12)
-12.50% - Shark Tank (vs. 4/13/12)
-15.38% - Primetime: What Would You Do?
-17.65% - Blue Bloods (vs. 4/6/12)
-21.43% - Dateline NBC

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+66.67% - Who Do You Think You Are? (vs. Friday Night Lights)
+16.67% - Shark Tank
+16.67% - Grimm (vs. Dateline NBC)
-5.88% - Undercover Boss (vs. The Royal Wedding: Modern Majesty)
-6.67% - 20/20 (vs. 20/20: A Modern Fairy Tale)
-8.33% - Dateline NBC
-12.50% - Blue Bloods
-15.38% - The Finder (vs. Kitchen Nightmares)
-15.38% - Fringe
-17.65% - CSI: NY
-26.67% - Primetime: What Would You Do? (vs. 20/20: A Modern Fairy Tale)
-33.33% - Supernatural
-50.00% - Nikita (vs. Smallville)

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," 2.4/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.2/7; 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," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.6/3; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/2.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.6/5 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 0.9/4 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 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (4/29/11):

CBS (9.18 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #1) snagged the top spot on Friday thanks to its "The Royal Wedding: Modern Majesty" (8.59 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T1) special followed by new episodes of "CSI: NY" (9.19 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T1) and "Blue Bloods" (9.77 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #3).

ABC (5.99 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2) then claimed the silver with a new "Shark Tank" (4.59 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T7) followed by its "20/20: A Modern Fairy Tale" (6.69 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #4) special.

Next up was FOX (3.39 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3) with fresh installments of "Kitchen Nightmares" (3.29 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T5) and "Fringe" (3.49 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T5).

Meanwhile, NBC (4.24 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #4) offered up new episodes of "Friday Night Lights" (2.99 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.6, #11) and "Dateline NBC" (4.87 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T7).

And finally, new episodes of "Smallville" (1.94 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.8, #10) and "Supernatural" (1.94 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.9, #9) on The CW (1.94 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): 20/20 (25.00%), Fringe (8.30%), Blue Bloods (6.70% vs. 4/8/11), CSI: NY (6.30% vs. 4/8/11), Supernatural (0.00%), Smallville (-11.10%), Kitchen Nightmares (-13.30% vs. 4/15/11), Shark Tank (-14.30%), Dateline NBC (-14.30%), Friday Night Lights (-40.00%).

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," 2.8/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.4/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.2/7; 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," 0.8/4; "Late Show," 0.6/4; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/4 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" (0.5/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 in metered-market households and a 0.3/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research