TV Ratings: 'The Mentalist' helps win Friday for CBS

Fast National ratings for Friday, March 9, 2012

Another Friday, another win for CBS. The network even shook up its rock-solid lineup by airing "The Mentalist" in the place of "A Gifted Man," but ratings were as big as ever for a Friday. Though slightly down from its usual Thursday night slot, "The Mentalist" settled in nicely between "Undercover Boss" and "Blue Bloods."

CBS pulled in an average of 11 million viewers (6.9 rating/12 share) to handily win Friday. NBC came in a distant second with 5 million viewers (3.4/6), ABC wil 4.7 million (3.1/5), FOX with 2.8 million (1.8/3) and The CW bringing up the rear with 1.1 million (0.8/1).

CBS also managed to dominate in the adults 18-49 demographic, pulling in a 2.0 rating and 6 share that bested ABC's 1.4/4, NBC's 1.3/4, FOX's 1.1/3 and The CW's 0.4/1.

Friday hour by hour:

8 p.m.

CBS: "Undercover Boss" (10.0 million, 6.2/11)
ABC: "Shark Tank" (5.4 million, 3.4/6)
NBC: "Who Do You Think You Are?" (5.0 million, 3.4/6)
FOX: "Kitchen Nightmares" rerun (2.7 million, 1.7/3)
The CW: "Nikita" rerun (1.1 million, 0.8/1)

18-49 leader: "Undercover Boss" (2.2)

9 p.m.

CBS: "The Mentalist" (10.0 million, 6.2/11)
NBC: "Grimm" (5.1 million, 3.2/5)
ABC: "What Would You Do?" (4.2 million, 2.8/5)
FOX: "Kitchen Nightmares" rerun (3.0 million, 1.8/3)
The CW: "Supernatural" rerun (1.1 million, 0.8/1)

18-49 leader: "The Mentalist" (2.0)

10 p.m.

CBS: "Blue Bloods" (11.3 million, 7.1/12)
NBC: "Dateline: NBC" (5.0 million, 3.4/6)
ABC: "20/20" (4.5 million, 3.1/5)

18-49 leader: "Blue Bloods" (1.8)

Ratings information includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change. Source: The Nielsen Company.

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