RATINGS RECAP: 2/4/11

ABC 
8:00 Supernanny
Viewers: 4.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2
9:00 Primetime: What Would You Do?
Viewers: 4.6 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
10:00 Barbara Walters Special
Viewers: 6.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1

CBS
8:00 The Defenders
Viewers: 8.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
9:00 Super Bowl's Greatest Commercials
Viewers: 9.6 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0
10:00 CSI: NY
Viewers: 9.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9

NBC
8:00 Who Do You Think You Are?
Viewers: 7.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
9:00 Dateline NBC
Viewers: 8.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.9

FOX
8:00 Kitchen Nightmares
Viewers: 4.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7
9:00 Fringe
Viewers: 4.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6

ABC had a low-rated night on unscripted programming. At 8pm, Supernanny was down two tenths in viewers but up a tenth in the demo from its last original episode two weeks ago. Will Shark Tank be a stronger performer in this slot when it arrives at the end of March? At 9pm, Primetime: What Would You Do? was even with viewers and the demo from last week despite tougher competition. At 10pm, a new Barbara Walters Special was stronger in total viewers but weaker in the demo than usual occupant 20/20.

CBS had a different lineup from usual. At 8pm, The Defenders made its Friday debut after a so-so run on Wednesdays. The total viewer count was better than expected as it was not too far below its Wednesday average and well above Medium's total viewer numbers in this slot. But the demo was very low and on par with Medium's usual numbers. If it can keep this up though and go up in the demo, it may have a fighting chance after everyone wrote it off with its Friday move. The annual special Super Bowl's Greatest Commercials had strong numbers by Friday standards and was the top demo performer of the night with a 2.0. At 10pm was a new CSI: NY at a special time and it was down three tenths in viewers but up two tenths in the demo from its last new airing three weeks ago at 9pm.

NBC had a good Friday night. At 8pm was the season premiere of reality series Who Do You Think You Are? which was up in total viewer count from last season and managed to tie for the demo win in the hour (albeit at a low 1.3). This is already a much stronger performer than fall occupant School Pride and it can at least make NBC competitive on Friday. At 9pm was Dateline which was up 1.4 million viewers and two tenths in the demo, hitting season highs in both categories despite tougher competition than last week from CBS. This is an impressive performance for a sleepy Friday newsmagazine.

FOX had its regular lineup on Friday night. Kitchen Nightmares at 8pm was down a tenth in viewers but even in the demo from last week against  increased competition. At 9pm, Fringe was down two tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo. This is a disappointing drop after two solid performances in a row with a 1.9 demo. This is more what people were expecting from Fringe on Friday night though so it still may have a chance by holding steady here though it would help itself by climbing back up next week.