NBC's LAW AND ORDER Grew 18%, Jimmy Fallon, and More

Wednesday Primetime Results:

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (2.0/6 in adults 18-49, 7.3 million viewers overall from 9-10:01 p.m. ET) grew +18% week to week in adult 18-49 rating (to a 2.0 from a 1.7) and by +23% or 1.4 million persons in total viewers (7.277 million vs. 5.899 million). It was the top "SVU" since Feb. 26 (2.0 in 18-49, 7.782 million viewers overall) in 18-49 and total viewers and equals the highest-rated "SVU" in 18-49 since Jan. 8 (2.1). L+7 Time-Shifting: The March 19 "Law & Order: SVU" increased in 18-49 by 71% in L+7 (2.63 vs. 1.54).

In the hour, "SVU" finished just a tenth of a point behind "American Idol" in adults 18-49 (with a 2.0 rating vs. a 2.1 for "Idol from 9-10) and "SVU" beat "Idol" head to head in men 18-49 and adults, men and women 18-34.

For its second half-hour from 9:30-10 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: SVU" pulled within a tenth of a rating point of first-place "Criminal Minds" in adults 18-49 (2.2 vs. 2.3) and moved ahead of "American Idol" (2.1 that half-hour). For the 9:30-10 half-hour, "SVU" ranked #1 among the Big 4 ahead of "Criminal Minds" and "Idol" in men 18-49 and adults, men and women 18-34. From its first half-hour to its second, "SVU" grew in all key measures, including gains of 16% in adults 18-49 (to a 2.2 rating from a 1.9), 20% in adults 18-34 (1.8 vs. 1.5) and 24% in women 18-34 (2.1 vs. 1.7).

"Chicago P.D." (1.6/5 in 18-49, 6.5 million viewers overall from 10:01-11 p.m. ET) equaled its highest adult 18-49 rating since its "SVU" crossover episode on Feb. 26 (2.2) and also hit a total-viewer high since that Feb. 26 edition (8.003 million). In total viewers, "Chicago P.D." grew week to week by 13% (6.520 million vs. 5.745 million). In the time period, "Chicago P.D." finishedwithin a tenth of a point of the slot lead among ABC, CBS and NBC in adults 18-49 (1.6 vs. 1.7 for "CSI") and ranked #1 among those networks in adults, men and women 18-34. Despite the 10 p.m. hour, "Chicago P.D." maintained its adult 18-49 and adult 25-54 rating half-hour to half-hour (1.6 vs. 1.6 in 18-49, 2.2 vs. 2.2 in 25-54). L+7 Time-Shifting: The March 19 "Chicago P.D." grew in 18-49 rating by 66% in L+7 (2.34 vs. 1.41).

A special 8-9 p.m. ET encore of " Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1.0/3 in adults 18-49, 4.3 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) generated growth from its first half-hour to its second of 11% in adults 18-49 (to a 1.0 rating from a 0.9), 17% in adults 25-54 (1.4 vs. 1.2) and 13% in women 25-54 (1.7 vs. 1.5).

In Late-Night Metered Markets Wednesday Night:

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 3.0/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.5/6; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.7/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "Tonight," 1.2/6; "Late Show," 0.6/3; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/2.

From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.1/4 in metered-market households and a 0.3/2 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Seth Meyers" (1.4/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.3/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.7/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/3 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.