TV Ratings: ‘Supernatural,’ ‘CSI: NY’ and ‘A Gifted Man’ All Return Up

As the networks return to business as usual, the returns of several key Friday scripted series bounced back from the December doldrums.

According to preliminary numbers, Fox will take an easy victory on the evening with a broadcast of the 2012 Cotton Bowl. During the 8-10 p.m. hours, the college football postseason game averaged 7.8 million total viewers and a 2.2 rating in adults 18-49, topping its competitors in the 8 and 9 p.m. slots.

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Even so, the football game didn’t prove to be an issue for CBS’ dramas, which all returned from a monthlong hiatus. A Gifted Man (8.5 million, 1.5) ticked up a few tenths to notch a demo rating slightly higher than its series debut. Will that help it in the future? The jury remains out on that one.

CSI: NY (10.5 million, 1.8) had the biggest jump from its last original, up nearly half a point. At 10 p.m., Blue Bloods (11.2 million, 1.8) saw an uptick. CBS placed second at 8 and 9 p.m. (after the Cotton Bowl), but topped the 10 p.m. time period.

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ABC took third place on the night, with a 1.4 ratings average. Winding down the series, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (5.7 million, 1.5) also saw an improvement. 20/20 averaged 5.1 million viewers and a 1.3.

The CW’s returns of Nikita (1.5 million, 0.6) and Supernatural (1.8 million, 0.8) both notched slightly higher demo ratings since their last originals.

NBC’s Chuck (3.4 million, 1.0) saw a boost from last week’s episode. To note, it was the only original scripted offering to continue through the holiday lull on broadcast networks. Dateline lured 5 million viewers and a 1.4.

8 p.m.
Fox: 2012 AT&T Cotton Bowl (7.8 million viewers, 2.2 rating in adults 18-49)
CBS: A Gifted Man (8.5 million, 1.5)
ABC: Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (5.7 million, 1.5)
NBC: Chuck (3.4 million, 1.0)
The CW: Nikita (1.5 million, 0.6)

9 p.m.
CBS: CSI: NY (10.5 million, 1.8)
The CW: Supernatural (1.8 million, 0.8)
NBC: Grimm (R) (2.4, 0.7)

10 p.m.
CBS: Blue Bloods (11.2 million, 1.8)
NBC: Dateline (5 million, 1.4)
ABC: 20/20 (5 million, 1.3)