[/caption]

Friday ratings offer Fringe fans some relief: After two weeks of declines, the series stopped falling and reversed course.

Fringe averaged 4.1 million viewers and a 1.5 preliminary adults 18-49 rating, up one tenth — or 7% — from last week. That’s still aways off from the hearty 1.9 rating the show posted its first two weeks in its new Friday time slot, but any increase is a positive sign. (Perhaps fans heard Joshua Jackson’s message yesterday that they better start watching on Fridays if they want the show to return).

Fox actually tied usual Friday leader CBS to win the night, helped by Fringe lead-in Kitchen Nightmares (3.9 million, 1.7) rising 13%. That’s helpful for Fringe too, the “who won the night” boast is valued by all networks.

While most Thursday shows hit season lows the night before, several Friday programs posted gains along with Fringe:

CBS had Defenders (8.5 million, 1.3) and CSI: NY (10.6 million, 1.8) both climbing this week, followed by Blue Bloods (11.1 million, 1.6) back in the Friday mix.

NBC’s Who Do You Think You Are (5.9 million, 1.2) bucked the trend by declining 14% and featuring — not coincidentally, I bet — Rosie O’Donnell as its celebrity profile. Dateline (6.8 million, 1.6) improved this week.