nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for friday, april 29, 2011)

Here are the highlights of the 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

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.

Here are the highlights of the 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (4/30/10):

NBC (6.19 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #1) was the network to beat on Friday thanks to the season finale of "Who Do You Think You Are?" (5.21 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.2, #7) and a new two-hour "Dateline NBC" (6.67 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1).

CBS (6.52 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2) then had to settle for second place with new episodes of "Ghost Whisperer" (6.52 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #2), "Medium" (6.33 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T3) and "Miami Medical" (6.72 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T5).

Next up was ABC (3.84 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #3) with a new "Wife Swap" (3.41 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T8), a second hour of "Wife Swap" (3.73 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T5) and a new "20/20" (4.39 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T3).

Meanwhile, FOX (2.77 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #4) offered up another encore of the two-hour season premiere of "House" (2.77 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T8).

And finally, a new "Smallville" (2.37 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T8) lead into a repeat of "America's Next Top Model" (1.50 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.6, #11) on The CW (1.93 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5).

Source: Nielsen Media Research