nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for friday, may 11, 2012)

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

ABC (4.99 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #1) was the top demo draw on Friday thanks to new episodes of "Shark Tank" (5.55 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T1), "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (4.79 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.6, #T1) and "20/20" (4.65 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.4, #3).

CBS (8.45 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.2, #2) then remained the most-watched network thanks to the season finales of "Undercover Boss" (5.75 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T7), "CSI: NY" (9.03 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T7) and "Blue Bloods" (10.66 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.3, #4).

Next up was NBC (4.62 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T3) and its original mix of "Who Do You Think You Are?" (4.76 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.8, #11), "Grimm" (4.48 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T5) and "Dateline NBC" (4.64 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T5).

Meanwhile, FOX (3.66 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T3) served up the season finales of "The Finder" (4.16 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T7) and "Fringe" (3.17 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.0, #10).

And finally, The CW (1.53 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) closed out the evening with new episodes of "Nikita" (1.38 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.4, #13) and "Supernatural" (1.68 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.7, #12).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+14.29% - Primetime: What Would You Do?
+11.11% - Fringe
+10.00% - The Finder
0.00% - Supernatural
0.00% - Nikita
-5.88% - Shark Tank
-6.67% - 20/20
-7.14% - Blue Bloods
-7.69% - Dateline NBC
-7.69% - Grimm
-11.11% - Who Do You Think You Are?
-15.38% - CSI: NY
-21.43% - Undercover Boss

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+33.33% - Primetime: What Would You Do?
+23.08% - Shark Tank
+16.67% - 20/20
+14.29% - Who Do You Think You Are? (vs. Friday Night Lights)
-13.33% - Blue Bloods
-14.29% - Dateline NBC
-14.29% - Grimm (vs. Dateline NBC)
-15.38% - Undercover Boss (vs. Flashpoint)
-23.08% - Fringe (vs. Kitchen Nightmares (Repeat))
-26.67% - The Finder (vs. Kitchen Nightmares)
-26.67% - CSI: NY (vs. CSI: NY)
-46.15% - Supernatural (vs. Smallville)
-69.23% - 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," 2.5/6; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.4/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.0/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/4.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.7/3; "Late Show," 0.5/2; "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) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.7/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

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 (5/13/11):

CBS (9.71 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.5, #1) inched its way to the top spot on Friday thanks to a new "Flashpoint" (7.51 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T5) and the season finales of "CSI: NY" (10.22 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T1) and "Blue Bloods" (11.41 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T1).

FOX (3.46 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2) then snagged the silver with a new "Kitchen Nightmares" (3.69 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.5, #T1) followed by an encore of "Kitchen Nightmares" (3.23 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T5).

Next up was The CW (2.97 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T3) with the series finale of "Smallville" (2.97 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T5), its most-watched installment since its landmark 200th episode (3.19 million on October 15).

Sharing the bronze was ABC (4.36 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T3) with the season finale of "Shark Tank" (5.00 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T5) and fresh installments of "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (3.71 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T9) and "20/20" (4.37 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T9).

And finally, new episodes of "Friday Night Lights" (2.80 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.7, #11) and "Dateline NBC" (5.62 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #4) on NBC (4.77 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #5) closed out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Smallville (62.50%), Flashpoint (18.20%), Shark Tank (8.30%), Blue Bloods (0.00%), CSI: NY (0.00%), Primetime: What Would You Do? (0.00%), Kitchen Nightmares (-6.30%), Dateline NBC (-12.50%), Friday Night Lights (-12.50%), 20/20 (-29.40%).

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," 3.0/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.6/6; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.1/7; 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," 0.8/4; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 1.1/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/2 with an encore.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/5 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" (0.6/4 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 0.5/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research