TV Ratings: 'Numb3rs' finale helps add to CBS' Friday win

NBC's two hours of 'Dateline' have started to make Friday mighty close

By Daniel Fienberg Saturday, Mar 13, 2010 12:03 PM

David Krumholtz and Navi Rawat of 'Numb3rs'

Credit: CBS

Fast National ratings for Friday, March 12, 2010.

CBS' clear domination over Friday nights appears to be in jeopardy or, possibly, a thing of the past.

For the second straight week since switching over to two hours of "Dateline" and premiering the genealogy series "Who Do You Think You Are?," NBC nearly won the night, putting a serious scare into CBS' normally sturdy procedurals.

Among adults 18-49, CBS won the night with a 1.8 rating, just beating NBC's 1.7 rating in the key demographic. FOX and ABC were close behind with a 1.4 rating, with The CW's 0.6 rating taking fifth.

Overall, CBS averaged an estimated 8.25 million viewers and a 5.1 rating/9 share. NBC had the same 5.1/9, but averaged 7.75 million viewers for second. ABC's 3.3/6 and the 2.2/4 for FOX followed. The CW's 1.1/2 was good for fifth.

CBS' "Ghost Whisperer" started the night in first with a 4.9/9 and a 1.9 demo rating. The second week of NBC's "Who Do You Think You Are?" did a 4.5/8 and pulled in more viewers and a slightly higher demo rating than in its premiere. ABC's "Supernanny" had a 3.2/6 for third, leaving FOX's repeat of "House" in fourth. The CW's repeat of the "America's Next Top Model" premiere was fifth with a 1.2/2.

In the 9 p.m. hour, NBC's "Dateline" did a 5.2/9. CBS' "Medium" had a 5.1/0, but averaged more viewers than NBC and won the 18-49 demo with a 1.8 rating. ABC's "Supernanny" had a 2.8/5 for third, edging the 2.5/4 for FOX's "Kitchen Nightmares." The CW trailed with the end of "ANTM" and an encore of the "High Society" premiere.

In the 10 p.m. hour, again it was "Dateline" taking the top ratings with a 5.5/10. CBS' "Numb3rs" finale -- certainly the season's last episode, but possibly the series finale as well -- did a 5.4/10 for second, but averaged more viewers than "Dateline" and tied for the hourly win in the key demo. ABC's "20/20" was third.

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.

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Bob

Is Numb3rs in jeopardy for ratings reasons, or are the people involved just moving on? I always thought the show was a pretty good ratings draw considering its timeslot, but what do I know?
March 14, 2010 at 8:58PM EST Reply to Comment
- dan Bob -- It's more about cost than anything else at this point. Yes, the show's ratings are down this season, but as you say, it's generally won its time period and it's roughly in line with the audience for the other two Friday procedurals. CBS still has the option of renewing it and it'll probably just depend on how the network's drama development turns out this spring... -Daniel
  March 14, 2010 at 10:03PM EST
- Kay They've officially cancelled the show. I wish it weren't so. I loved the show, but I did miss the old structure of the episodes as they were in the first two seasons. I wish another network would pick them up and that the Scott brothers would go back to focusing on the math aspect to the casework and not just working that in on occasion.
  May 18, 2010 at 4:34PM EST