nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for friday, january 20, 2012)

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

ABC (6.42 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.7, #1) moved to the top spot on Friday with the return of "Shark Tank" (6.23 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.7, #3) and "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (5.83 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) alongside a new "20/20" (7.20 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T1).

Second place then went to NBC (5.07 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2) with the penultimate week of "Chuck" (3.85 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T8) followed by new episodes of "Grimm" (5.90 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.8, #T1) and "Dateline NBC" (5.47 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.4, #6).

Next up was FOX (3.53 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3) with new episodes of "Kitchen Nightmares" (3.85 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.5, #5) and "Fringe" (3.18 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T8).

Meanwhile, CBS (7.51 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4) was tops in viewers but fourth in demos with its lineup of "A Gifted Man" (6.94 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #11), "CSI: NY" (7.10 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T8) and "Blue Bloods" (8.48 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.3, #7) repeats.

And finally, encores of "Remodeled" (0.78 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T12) and "Supernatural" (0.91 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T12) on The CW (0.84 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) closed out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+28.57% - Grimm
+22.22% - Chuck
+7.69% - Dateline NBC
+5.88% - 20/20
0.00% - Fringe
-11.76% - Kitchen Nightmares

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+54.55% - Shark Tank (vs. Supernanny)
+28.57% - Grimm (vs. Dateline NBC)
+20.00% - 20/20
0.00% - Dateline NBC
-5.88% - Primetime: What Would You Do?
-8.33% - Chuck (vs. Minute to Win It (Repeat))
-21.05% - Kitchen Nightmares
-42.11% - Fringe

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," 3.3/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.6/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.6/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.7/5.

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; "Nightline," 1.0/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (2.0/6 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" (0.7/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/2).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.1/4 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 (1/21/11):

FOX (4.56 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.9, #1) snagged top adults 18-49 honors on Friday with the season premiere of "Kitchen Nightmares" (4.26 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T1) followed by the time slot debut of "Fringe" (4.86 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T1).

ABC (4.93 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2) then was bumped to second place with its usual mix of "Supernanny" (4.31 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T8), "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (5.12 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.7, #3) and "20/20" (5.37 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.5, #5).

Next up was CBS (7.19 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T3) with the series finale of "Medium" (7.77 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) followed by a repeat of "CSI: NY" (7.21 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T8) and a second repeat of "CSI: NY" (6.60 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T8).

Meanwhile, NBC (5.77 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T3) offered up another repeat of "Minute to Win It" (4.66 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.2, #7) and a new two-hour "Dateline NBC" (6.33 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #6).

And finally, repeats of "Smallville" (1.52 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.6, #11) and "Supernatural" (1.31 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.5, #12) on The CW (1.42 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Medium (23.10%), Primetime: What Would You Do? (13.30%), 20/20 (7.10%), Fringe (0.00% vs. 12/9/10), Dateline NBC (-6.70%), Supernanny (-8.30%).

Source: Nielsen Media Research