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

Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

ABC (4.52 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T1) and NBC (4.82 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T1) split the demo crown on Friday as the former offered up a repeat of "Shark Tank" (5.05 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T5) followed by new episodes of "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (4.38 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T2) and "20/20" (4.14 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T2).

The Peacock then served up a repeat of "Who Do You Think You Are?" (4.19 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T9) alongside originals of "Grimm" (4.46 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T2) and "Dateline NBC" (5.81 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #1).

CBS (5.42 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #4) however was still the most-watched network despite its all-repeat lineup of "Mike & Molly" (4.25 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.9, #8), "Rules of Engagement" (3.55 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T9), "CSI: NY" (6.17 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T9) and "Blue Bloods" (6.18 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T9).

Next up was FOX (3.65 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #3) with fresh installments of "The Finder" (4.21 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T5) and "Fringe" (3.09 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.0, #7).

And finally, new episodes of "Nikita" (1.50 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.4, #14) and "Supernatural" (1.48 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.6, #13) resumed over on The CW (1.49 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) to close out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+33.33% - The Finder
+27.27% - Dateline NBC
+11.11% - Fringe
0.00% - Nikita (vs. 3/30/12)
-7.14% - Primetime: What Would You Do?
-14.29% - Supernatural (vs. 3/30/12)
-18.75% - 20/20
-18.75% - Grimm

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):

+20.00% - The Finder (vs. Kitchen Nightmares (Repeat))
+18.18% - Primetime: What Would You Do?
+8.33% - 20/20
0.00% - Dateline NBC
-7.14% - Grimm (vs. Dateline NBC)
-16.67% - Fringe
-33.33% - Supernatural (vs. Supernatural)
-55.56% - 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," 2.4/6 with an encore telecast; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 1.9/5 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.8/6; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.4/4 with an encore.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.7/3 with an encore; "Late Show," 0.4/2 with an encore; "Nightline," 0.8/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/2 with an encore.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/4 in metered-market household with an encore) beat CBS's first-run "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.1/3). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 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 0.8/3 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.3/2 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 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (4/22/11):

CBS (7.67 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.4, #1) rose to the top spot on Friday with its two-hour special "Girls Night Out: Superstar Women of Country" (8.48 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1). Leading off the night was a repeat of "CSI: NY" (6.04 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T7).

ABC (4.44 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T2) and NBC (5.28 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T2) then shared the silver as the former offered up new episodes of "Shark Tank" (4.90 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T2), "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (3.80 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #6) and "20/20" (4.44 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T4).

The Peacock then served up new episodes of "Friday Night Lights" (3.75 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T7) and "Dateline NBC" (6.05 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T2).

Meanwhile, FOX (3.13 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4) went with a repeat of "Kitchen Nightmares" (2.74 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T7) followed by a new "Fringe" (3.51 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T4).

And finally, new episodes of "Smallville" (2.23 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T10) and "Supernatural" (1.97 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T10) on The CW (2.10 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Friday Night Lights (11.10%), Dateline NBC (0.00%), Supernatural (0.00%), Shark Tank (-6.70%), Fringe (-7.70%), Smallville (-10.00%), 20/20 (-20.00%), Primetime: What Would You Do? (-21.40%).

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," 2.7/6 with an encore telecast; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.2/5 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.9/6; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.4/4 with an encore.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/3 with an encore; "Late Show," 0.6/2 with an encore; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/3 with an encore.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/4 in metered-market households with an encore) tied CBS's first-run "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 with an encore) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/2).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.9/3 with an encore 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