nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for friday, january 28, 2011)

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

FOX (4.31 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #1) was the top demo draw for the second week in a row on Friday thanks to new episodes of "Kitchen Nightmares" (4.05 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T3) and "Fringe" (4.57 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.9, #1).

Second place then went to NBC (6.31 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #2) with a repeat of "Minute to Win It" (4.31 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T7) followed by a new two-hour "Dateline NBC" (7.31 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.8, #2).

Next up was ABC (4.67 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3) with a repeat of "Supernanny" (3.55 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.9, #10) followed by new episodes of "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (4.56 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T5) and "20/20" (5.92 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T3).

Meanwhile, CBS (7.69 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4) offered up its all-repeat lineup of "NCIS: Los Angeles" (7.69 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #9), "CSI: NY" (8.17 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T7) and "Hawaii Five-0" (7.19 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T5).

And finally, encores of last night's "The Vampire Diaries" (1.33 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.6, #11) and "Nikita" (1.06 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.4, #12) on The CW (1.19 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) closed out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Dateline NBC (28.60%), 20/20 (13.30%), Fringe (0.00%), Kitchen Nightmares (-10.50%), Primetime: What Would You Do? (-23.50%).

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," 2.2/5 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.1/7; 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," 1.0/4; "Late Show," 0.6/3 with an encore; "Nightline," 1.1/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/5 in metered-market households with an encore) beat CBS's first-run "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 with an encore) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/3 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/29/10):

CBS (8.34 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.8, #1) was the network to beat on Friday thanks to new episodes of "Ghost Whisperer" (8.34 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.9, #1), "Medium" (7.98 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T2) and "NUMB3RS" (8.70 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T2).

The silver then went to ABC (5.72 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #2) with new episodes of "Supernanny" (4.72 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T9), "Shark Tank" (4.38 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.5, #5) and "20/20" (8.07 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.7, #4).

Next up was NBC (6.35 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #3) with a repeat of "Law & Order" (6.76 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T9) followed by new episodes of "Dateline NBC" (7.35 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T6) and "The Jay Leno Show" (4.95 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T6).

Meanwhile, FOX (2.72 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4) offered up its swan song for "Dollhouse" (2.16 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.8, #12) followed by the return of "Kitchen Nightmares" (3.28 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T6).

And finally, a new "Smallville" (2.52 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.1, #11) lead into a repeat "Smallville" (1.48 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.6, #13) on The CW (2.00 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5).

Source: Nielsen Media Research