TV Ratings: 'Prison Break' tanks in Friday return

CBS and ABC split Friday as 'Prison Break' can't even muster 'Dollhouse'-sized audience

By Daniel Fienberg Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 12:41 PM

Wentworth Miller of 'Prison Break'

Credit: FOX

Fast National ratings for Friday, April 17, 2009.

"Prison Break" shifted to Friday night and did dismal ratings numbers for FOX. On the bright side for the network, the show has already been cancelled. On the bright side for FOX, the "Prison Break" numbers almost make "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" and "Dollhouse" look great in comparison.

Oh and ABC and CBS split the night.

ABC won in the key 18-49 demographic, doing a 1.6 rating. CBS and NBC tied for second in the demo with a 1.4 rating, beating the 1.0 rating for FOX. The CW's 0.5 rating trailed.

Overall, though, CBS averaged an estimated 6.55 million viewers and a 4.4 rating/8 share. NBC was second with a 3.8/7, followed closely by the 3.5/6 for ABC. FOX's 2.0/4 and The CW's 0.9/2 followed.

CBS won the 8 p.m. hour with a 4.5/9 for a repeat of "Ghost Whisperer." ABC's "Wife Swap" was second with a 3.7/7. NBC's "Howie Do It" averaged a 2.0/4, beating the 1.8/4 for a repeat of the season's most recent "Prison Break" on FOX. The CW's repeats of "Everybody Hates Chris" and "The Game" trailed.

A repeat of "Flashpoint" gave CBS a narrow 9 p.m. win with a 4.2/8, nipping "Dateline NBC." ABC's "Supernanny" had a 3.2/6 for second, topping the 2.2/4 for FOX's new "Prison Break." That "Prison Break" episode averaged a 1.2 rating in the 18-49 demo and 3.38 million viewers. The show will return to the 8 p.m. slot next week. Meanwhile, The CW was last with a repeat of "America's Next Top Model."

NBC won the 10 p.m. hour with a 5.4/10 for "Dateline." CBS' "Numb3rs" repeat had a 4.5/8, beating ABC's "20/20" for the hour.

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

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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.