RATINGS RAT RACE: Strong Friday Start For 'Boss', ABC Has First Nightly Win Over CBS

Last night’s ratings provided more ammunition for the theory that scripted programming may be doomed on Friday. The two highest-rated programs on the night in adults 18-49 by a mile were a a reality series, CBS’ Undercover Boss (2.4/8), and a newsmagazine, ABC’s 20/20 (2.0/6). The former made a very strong entry on Friday, drawing not only the highest 18-49 rating of the night but also the largest audience (10.7 million), edging the usual Friday winner in total viewers, CBS drama Blue Bloods (10.3 million, 1.6/5 in 18-49). Seeing an unscripted show almost double the delivery of a high-end drama (A Gifted Man) in the 8 PM hour has got to give CBS, the staunchest supporter of maintaining an all-scripted Friday lineup, a pause. Especially since Undercover Boss not only outperformed A Gifted Man but posted CBS’ largest audience and 18-49 rating in the hour in three years — since the March 6 and May 1 episodes of Ghost Whisperer, the last CBS scripted series to worked in the Friday 8 PM slot. A Gifted Man (9.5 million, 1.5/4) didn’t do much with the better 9 PM time period and big lead-in from Boss, only matching its best 18-49 delivery to date.

Despite the strong numbers for Undercover Boss, CBS (1.8/6, 10.3 million) lost the No. 1 spot for the night in 18-49 to ABC (1.9/6, 7.1 million) for the first time this season after the networks finished tied twice before. ABC was paced by a big two-hour 20/20 (2.0/6, 7.1 million) devoted to Whitney Houston. ABC posted its largest audience of the night in two years and best 18-49 delivery in over a year. That despite a depressed Shark Tank at 8 PM. The new reality entry in the hour, Undercover Boss, pushed both Shark Tank (1.5/5, down 17%) and Fox’s Kitchen Nightmares (1.3/4, down 13%) lower. Fringe has been nothing but consistent, staying frozen at a series-low 1.1/3. NBC’s broadcast of the NAACP Image Awards (0.8/2) was up 33% from last year, possibly boosted by a Whitney Houston tribute. Dateline (1.1/3) was overpowered by 20/20, down 27%. The CW’s Nikita (0.6/2) was up a tenth, Supernatural (0.7/2) was down a tenth.