Fourth Season Debut of COMMUNITY Delivers Strong Ratings for NBC

At 8 p.m. ET, the fourth season debut of "Community" (1.8/6 in 18-49, 4.0 million viewers overall) beat the show's season premiere last year (when it did not face competition from Fox's "American Idol") by 6 percent in 18-49 rating (1.8 vs. 1.7) and by 1 percent in total viewers (3.978 million vs. 3.928 million). These are the top "Community" results in 18-49 and total viewers since March 15, 2012. Versus last season's finale on May 17, "Community" is up 38 percent in 18-49 rating (1.8 vs. 1.3 at 9:30) and up 61 percent in total viewers (3.978 million vs. 2.476 million).

* "Community" is up versus NBC's average in the time period so far this season by 38 percent in 18-49 (1.8 vs. 1.3). Excluding last week's "30 Rock" finale, this is NBC's highest rating in the slot with comedy programming since the "Community" telecast of March 15, 2012.

* At 8:30 p.m. ET, "Parks and Recreation" (2.0/5 in 18-49, 3.8 million viewers overall) delivered a season-high rating in adults 18-49 and its top result in that key demo since November 17, 2011. "Parks" Built on its 18-49 lead-in by 11 percent. The 2.0 is NBC's highest 18-49 rating with comedy programming in this slot since March 15, 2012.

* In its first three weeks in the 8:30 half-hour, "Parks and Recreation" has now delivered its top three telecasts of the season in total viewers

* From 9-9:31 p.m. ET, "The Office" (2.1/6 in 18-49, 4.3 million viewers overall) ) matched its highest 18-49 rating four weeks (since Jan. 10). In the time period, "The Office" is #1 among ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in men 18-34 and #2 in men 18-49 and 25-54. Note that last season, "The Office" added an average 50 percent to these next-day "live plus same day" ratings when Nielsen reported "live plus seven day" results.

* From 9:31-10:01 p.m. ET, "1600 Penn" averaged a 1.1/3 in 18-49 and 2.8 million viewers overall after being preempted last week. Most recent results for "1600 Penn" have been a 1.3 on January 24 and a 1.2 on January 17.

* From 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "Do No Harm" averaged a 0.7/3 in 18-49 and 2.2 million viewers overall. Last week's premiere averaged a 0.9/3 in 18-49.

In Late-Night Metered Markets Thursday night:

* In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 2.6/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.9/7; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.6/7.

* In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 Wednesday results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/4; "Late Show," 0.7/3; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.0/5.

* From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET Wednesday night, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.6/5 in metered-market households and a 0.6/3 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

* From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/4 in metered-market households) trailed CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.4/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.4/3 in 18-49) trailed "Late Late Show" (0.5/3).

* At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 in metered-market households and a 0.2/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

NOTE: All ratings are "live plus same day" from Nielsen Media Research unless otherwise indicated.