TV Ratings: 'Fringe' Ties Series Low, 'Grimm' Down in Return

Fox

"Fringe"

It was business as usual for the returns of several Friday programs, including Fringe and Grimm.

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Fringe returned to match a series low, drawing only 2.9 million total viewers, and a 1.1 rating in adults 18-49 demographic. The poor showing came nearly a week after Fox entertainment chief Kevin Reilly admitted that the network lost money on the heavily-serialized multi-universe drama.

"At that rating, on that night [Fridays], it’s impossible to make money," he told reporters during the winter Television Critics Assoc. press tour, "and we’re not in the business of losing money.”

Meanwhile, Fox's Kitchen Nightmares won its time slot at 8 p.m. with a 1.7 rating. The Gordon Ramsay series lured 3.8 million.

NBC's Grimm (4.6 million, 1.4) returned after several weeks off the air, down slightly from its most recent episode in December. Airing against Fringe in the 9 p.m. hour, Grimm placed second in its time period behind ABC and CBS which tied for No. 1. Grimm lead-in Chuck (3.2 million, 0.9) stayed flat as it nears the series finale.

CBS' A Gifted Man (8.7 million, 1.3) and CSI: NY (10.5 million, 1.7) both dropped from last week's returns. Blue Bloods (11.9 million, 1.8) remained the same.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition wrapped up its series run on ABC with 6.3 million viewers tuning in from 8-10 p.m. and a 1.6 rating, relatively steady from the previous week. Newsmagazine 20/20 (5.6 million, 1.7), however, saw an uptick at 10 p.m.

The CW's Nikita (1.5 million, 0.5) and Supernatural (1.5 million, 0.6) both slipped.

In a rare tie, ABC and CBS top Friday with a 1.6 primetime average. Fox followed with a 1.4, with NBC (1.2) and the CW (0.6) trailing.

8 p.m.
Fox: Kitchen Nightmares (3.8 million viewers, 1.7 rating in adults 18-49)
ABC: Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (6.3 million, 1.6)
CBS: A Gifted Man (8.7 million, 1.3)
NBC: Chuck (3.2 million, 0.9)
The CW: Nikita (1.5 million, 0.5)

9 p.m.
CBS: CSI: NY (10.5 million, 1.7)
NBC: Grimm (4.6 million, 1.4)
Fox: Fringe (2.9 million, 1.1)
The CW: Supernatural (1.5 million, 0.6)

10 p.m.
CBS: Blue Bloods (11.9 million, 1.8)
ABC: 20/20 (5.6 million, 1.7)
NBC: Dateline (5.2 million, 1.3)