CBS' cult-favorite vampire drama "Moonlight" returned Friday night and the result is a ratings story that's as complicated as Nielsen numbers can get.

On one hand, "Moonlight" (8 million viewers, 2.1 average adults 18 to 49 rating and a 7 share) won the 9 p.m. hour and helped CBS win the night.

On the other hand, the competition was nonexistent -- with NBC's "Dateline" (7 million, 1.9/6) the closest competitor.

On yet another hand, "Moonlight" had a strong retention of its "Ghost Whisperer" lead-in (9 million, 2.3/9) and, at 10 p.m., "Numbers" performed similarly (9.6 million, 2.2/7).

Running out of hands, "Moonlight" was down 9% from its pre-strike original average.

But other serialized shows coming back post-strike have dropped even more.

In other words, the "Moonlight" number is nothing for CBS to be proud of. Yet it is.

'Moonlight' helps CBS win Friday

Cult vampire series tops 9 p.m. hour with little competition

By James Hibberd

April 28, 2008, 05:36 PM