TV Ratings: 'Dollhouse' finale hits series lows on Friday

CBS wins the night, while 'Dollhouse' averaged viewer than 2.8 million viewers

By Daniel Fienberg Saturday, May 9, 2009 1:56 PM

Eliza Dushku of 'Dollhouse'

Credit: Miranda Penn Turin/FOX

Fast National ratings for Friday, May 8, 2009.

Yes, CBS won Friday night in all key measures, but that's not what most online fans are interested in. Those readers will be disappointed to learn that FOX's "Dollhouse" hit series lows for its first season finale.

Among adults 18-49, CBS won the night with a 2.0 rating. ABC and NBC tied for second in the key demographic with a 1.2 rating. FOX held fourth with a 1.0 rating, which barely beat the 0.7 rating for The CW.

Overall, CBS averaged an estimated 9.17 million viewers to go with a 5.8 rating/ 11 share. ABC's 3.2/6 was second, followed by the 3.1/6 for NBC. FOX's 1.8/2 was enough for fourth, topping the 1.2/2 for The CW.

CBS swept the primetime hours starting at 8 p.m. with a 5.9/12 for "Ghost Whisperer." The first hour of ABC's broadcast of "Happy Feet" was second with a 3.1/6, topping the 2.0/4 for FOX's "Prison Break." NBC was fourth with two repeats of "Howie Do It." The CW's "Everybody Hates Chris" and "The Game" finished fifth with a 1.2/2.

"Flashpoint" had a 5.5/10 for CBS in the 9 p.m. hour. "Dateline NBC" had a 3.3/6 to beat ABC's movie in the hour. FOX's "Dollhouse" finale had a 1.7/3 and averaged under 2.76 million viewers for the hour, comfortably the lowest average audience in the Joss Whedon drama's brief run. "Dollhouse" improved on the demo numbers for "Prison Break," but its 1.0 rating in the 18-49 demo was also a series low. The CW's "America's Next Top Model" repeat was fifth.

At 10 p.m. "Numb3rs" had a 6.0/11 for CBS. "Dateline NBC" had a 4.2/8 to beat "20/20" on ABC.

All ratings information comes from preliminary Fast National Nielsen data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are subject to change.

Daniel Fienberg
Executive Editor

A long-time member of the TCA Board and a longer-time blogger of "American Idol," Dan Fienberg writes about TV, except for when he writes about movies or sometimes writes about the Red Sox. But never music. He would sound stupid talking about music.