RATINGS RECAP: 5/6/11

ABC
8:00 Shark Tank
Viewers: 4.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2
9:00 Primetime: What Would You Do?
Viewers: 4.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2
10:00 20/20
Viewers: 6.2 million, 18-49 demo: 1.7

CBS
8:00 Flashpoint
Viewers: 6.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1
9:00 CSI: NY
Viewers: 9.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
10:00 Blue Bloods
Viewers: 10.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5

NBC
8:00 Friday Night Lights
Viewers: 2.8 million, 18-49 demo: 0.8
9:00 Dateline NBC
Viewers: 5.9 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6

FOX
8:00 Kitchen Nightmares
Viewers: 3.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6
9:00 Fringe
Viewers: 3.3 million, 18-49 demo: 1.2

ABC was all new with its regular Friday lineup. At 8pm, Shark Tank was down a tenth in viewers and even in the demo with last week. At 9pm, Primetime: What Would You Do? returned after a week off and was even in viewers and the demo with its last airing. Will these two shows be back on Friday next fall or will ABC be aggressive at first and use them as backup? At 10pm, 20/20 was down six tenths in viewers but up a tenth in the demo from last week's two hour edition. The news of Osama bin Laden this week helped the newsmagazine stay strong after the Royal Wedding last week.

CBS started things off with the season premiere of Canadian import Flashpoint which returned to modest numbers at best and a very low demo. This is the fourth drama this season to have trouble in this slot as CBS will be back to the drawing board for this time next season. It was slightly above the quickly yanked Chaos but CBS will probably let this show run its course with summer nearing. At 9pm, CSI: NY was up three tenths in viewers but down a tenth in the demo for series lows. This is not a good time to be dipping in the demo for a bubble show. At 10pm, Blue Bloods was even in viewers and up two tenths in the demo. Both CSI: NY and Blue Bloods could rise in the finals considering they have many times.

NBC had its regular Friday night lineup. At 8pm, Friday Night Lights was down two tenths in viewers for series lows but was up a tenth in the demo. It was followed by Dateline NBC which was up a million viewers and four tenths in the demo in this newsworthy week. FOX was also all new starting with Kitchen Nightmares which was up three tenths in viewers and the demo, easily winning the 8pm hour in the demo... with a 1.6. The season finale of Fringe followed and was down two tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo, tying series lows in both categories. Although it is painfully low for a renewed show, it has been a slight improvement in the time period for FOX which is why we'll probably see it in this same slot at some point next season.