TV Ratings: 'Flashpoint' return helps CBS on Friday

Hugh Dillon and Enrico Colantoni of 'Flashpoint'

Credit: Brooke Palmer CBS

Fast National ratings for Friday, Jan. 9, 2009.

Has CBS found a stable new inhabitant for the Friday night 9 p.m. time slot? The network certainly got solid numbers for the second season premiere of "Flashpoint."

CBS won the night in the 18-49 demographic with a 2.3 rating, followed by ABC's 1.9 rating in the key age range. NBC and FOX tied for third with a 1.6 rating. The CW's 0.5 rating trailed.

Overall, CBS averaged an estimated 10.3 million viewers and a 6.5 rating/11 share, far ahead of second place ABC's 4.0/7. NBC's 3.6/6 was third and FOX held fourth with a 2.5/4. The CW's 0.9/1 was fifth.

CBS swept the primetime hours beginning at 8 p.m. with a 6.7/12 for "Ghost Whisperer," which ended up as the night's most watched program. NBC's "Howie Do It" was a respectable second (by NBC standards) with a 4.6/8 for the hour. ABC's "Wife Swap" and FOX's broadcast of "Bruce Almighty" were third and fourth. Fifth place went to The CW's "Everybody Hates Chris" and "The Game," which both did a 1.1/2.

At 9 p.m. CBS' "Flashpoint" returned to Fridays with a 6.3/11. Although the drama lost more than half-a-million viewers from its lead-in, it still outperformed such recent slot occupants as "The Ex List" and "Moonlight," though it didn't do as well as repeats of "The Mentalist" and "NCIS." ABC was a distant second for the hour with a 3.7/6 for "Supernanny." NBC's "Lipstick Jungle" and FOX's "Bruce Almighty" tied for third with a 2.8/5, while The CW's reairing of "13 - Fear Is Real" was fifth.

"Numb3rs" closed the night strong for CBS doing a 6.4/11. ABC's "20/20" has a 5.3/9 for second and NBC's "Dateline" was third.

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