RATINGS RECAP: 2/17/12

ABC
8:00 Shark Tank
Viewers: 5.7 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
9:00 20/20 Special Edition
Viewers: 7.9 million, 18-49 demo: 2.0

CBS
8:00 Undercover Boss
Viewers: 10.8 million, 18-49 demo: 2.4
9:00 A Gifted Man
Viewers: 9.5 million, 18-49 demo: 1.5
10:00 Blue Bloods
Viewers: 10.8 million, 18-49 demo: 1.6

NBC
8:00 NAACP Image Awards
Viewers: 3.0 million, 18-49 demo: 0.8
10:00 Dateline NBC
Viewers: 4.4 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1

FOX
8:00 Kitchen Nightmares
Viewers: 3.1 million, 18-49 demo: 1.3
9:00 Fringe
Viewers: 3.0 million, 18-49 demo: 1.1 

On Friday night, CBS got off to a strong start with the Friday debut of former Sunday occupant Undercover Boss. The reality show delivered some of the best numbers for CBS in this timeslot in quite some time as over 10 million viewers and a 2.4 in the demo is extremely strong for a Friday night. While some have questioned whether CBS needs this show on Sundays, they have clearly found a winning show for a timeslot that has been difficult for them. A Gifted Man slid to 9pm because of Boss and while it was up 1.1 million viewers and two tenths in the demo to tie series highs, it doesn't seem like it is a better option than CSI: NY in the timeslot which will spell the end for this show on CBS's crowded schedule. At 10pm, Blue Bloods was down six tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo.

Over on ABC, Shark Tank took a backseat to Undercover Boss after several weeks winning the timeslot. It was down two tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo. These two shows will probably be closer to each other in coming weeks. At 9pm, a special edition of 20/20 focusing of Whitney Houston's life and death was up big - 2.7 million viewers and six tenths in the demo. NBC saw poor results from the NAACP Image Awards while Dateline NBC was down three tenths in viewers and even in the demo. On FOX, Kitchen Nightmares was down seven tenths in viewers and three tenths in the demo as there is quite a logjam of reality shows in the 8pm hour now. At 9pm, Fringe was down two tenths in viewers and a tenth in the demo.