nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for friday, may 18, 2012)

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

NBC (5.20 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T1) and ABC (4.76 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T1) split the adults 18-49 crown on Friday as the former offered up the season finales of "Who Do You Think You Are?" (5.54 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #6) and "Grimm" (5.31 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1) plus a new "Dateline NBC" (4.76 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #5).

"Who" equaled its highest 18-49 rating in 11 weeks and delivered its biggest overall audience in eight weeks while the "Grimm" finale matched its highest 18-49 rating since January 20 and attracted its biggest overall audience since that same date.

The Alphabet then offered up the season finale of "Shark Tank" (5.53 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #2) alongside originals of "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (4.33 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T3) and "20/20" (4.43 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T3).

Next up was CBS (5.44 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T3) and its all-repeat lineup of "Undercover Boss" (4.26 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T7), "CSI: NY" (5.61 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T7) and "Blue Bloods" (6.45 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T7).

Meanwhile, FOX (2.02 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T3) offered up repeats of "Kitchen Nightmares" (1.98 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.7, #11) and a second "Kitchen Nightmares" (2.06 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T7).

And finally, The CW (1.52 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) closed out the evening with the season finales of "Nikita" (1.47 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.4, #13) and "Supernatural" (1.58 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.6, #12).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+33.33% - Grimm
+25.00% - Who Do You Think You Are?
0.00% - Nikita
-6.25% - Shark Tank
-8.33% - Dateline NBC
-14.29% - 20/20
-14.29% - Supernatural
-25.00% - Primetime: What Would You Do?

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+36.36% - Shark Tank
+33.33% - Grimm (vs. Dateline NBC)
+11.11% - Who Do You Think You Are? (vs. Friday Night Lights)
-7.69% - Primetime: What Would You Do?
-8.33% - Dateline NBC
-20.00% - 20/20
-25.00% - Supernatural
-50.00% - Nikita (vs. Supernatural)

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," 2.7/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.1/5; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.9/7; 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," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.5/2; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

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" (1.1/3). 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 with an encore and a 0.2/2 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 (5/20/11):

FOX (3.67 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.5, #1) was the network to beat on the final Friday of the May sweeps period with the season finale of "Kitchen Nightmares" (3.84 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1) followed by an encore of "Kitchen Nightmares" (3.49 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.4, #3).

ABC (4.53 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #2) then took home the silver with a repeat of "Shark Tank" (4.15 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T6) followed by the season finale of "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (3.94 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.3, #4) and a new "20/20" (5.52 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #2).

Next up was NBC (4.65 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #3) with fresh installments of "Friday Night Lights" (3.31 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T9) and "Dateline NBC" (5.32 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #5).

Meanwhile, CBS (6.32 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #4) offered up a new "Flashpoint" (6.68 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T9) followed by a repeat of "CSI: NY" (7.08 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T6) and a special "48 Hours Mystery" (5.21 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #8).

And finally, a new "Supernatural" (2.06 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T11) led into the season finale of "Supernatural" (2.21 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T11) on The CW (2.14 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #5).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49): Friday Night Lights (28.60%), 20/20 (25.00%), Primetime: What Would You Do? (8.30%), Kitchen Nightmares (6.70%), Supernatural (-11.10%), Dateline NBC (-14.30%), Flashpoint (-30.80%).

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," 3.2/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.3/5; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.1/7; 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," 0.9/4; "Late Show," 0.6/2; "Nightline," 1.1/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.6/5 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" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/2).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.0/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research