'HOME BUT NOT ALONE' IS #1

Fast National ratings for Friday, April 4, 2008

The return of two drama series carried CBS to a ratings win Friday night, but even with those shows back, the demographic ratings weren't much to celebrate.

CBS averaged a 5.9 rating/10 share for the evening, winning by a comfortable margin over NBC, 4.1/7. FOX came in third with a 3.5/6. ABC, 3.2/5, finished fourth, and The CW trailed with a 2.6/5.

In the adults 18-49 demographic, CBS was the only network to break 2.0, winning the night with a fairly soft 2.3 rating. NBC took second with a 1.6. ABC and The CW tied for third at 1.4, while FOX drew a 1.3.

"Ghost Whisperer," 6.0/10, put CBS on top at 8 p.m. ABC got a 3.7/7 from an "America's Funniest Home Videos" rerun. A "Bones" rerun on FOX earned a 3.1/6, edging NBC's game show "Amne$ia." The CW's "Friday Night Smackdown!" delivered a 2.4/4.

CBS held the lead at 9 p.m. with "The Price Is Right Million Dollar Spectacular," 5.4/9. NBC moved up to second with "Dateline," 4.5/8. "Canterbury's Law," 3.9/7, came in third for FOX. "Smackdown!" improved to 2.8/5 in its second hour, moving it ahead of the return of "Duel" on ABC.

At 10 p.m., the return of "Numb3rs" scored the night's biggest audience (6.2/11) for CBS. A second hour of "Dateline" posted a 4.8/8 for NBC, and ABC's "20/20" drew a 3.4/6.

Ratings information is taken from fast national data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change.

Returning Dramas Lead CBS Friday.....'Numb3rs,' 'Ghost Whisperer' top night, but demo ratings soft.....