Debra Messing's MYSTERIES OF LAURA Wins Time Slot for NBC

NBC ranked #1 for premiere Wednesday in total viewers for the first time since 2003, with slot wins for "Mysteries of Laura" (9.9 million) at 8 p.m. and "Chicago P.D." (8.5 million at 10, second-high ever for "Chicago P.D.") and the top "SVU" (10.1 million) since Jan. 5, 2011.

"Laura" retained 97% of last week's 10 p.m. preview in total viewers.

The regular-slot debut of "The Mysteries of Laura" (1.5/5 in 18-49, 9.9 million viewers overall from 8-9 p.m. ET) won THE HOUR among the Big 4 in total viewers while retaining 97% of last week's preview, which aired at 10 p.m. and benefited from a lead-in from the high-rated season finale of "America's Got Talent" (13.5 million viewers from 9:30-10 p.m.). In adults 18-49, "Laura" retained 75% of last week's 10 p.m. preview which followed the "Talent" finale (2.7 from 9:30-10 p.m.).

This equals NBC's top 18-49 rating in the time period with in-season regular programming since Oct. 2, 2012.

In total views, this is NBC's best result with in-season regularly scheduled programming versus all regularly scheduled competition in the Wednesday 8-9pm hour in more than five years (since April 21, 2008, 10.130 million for "Deal or No Deal").

The 15th season premiere of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (2.1/6 in 18-49, 10.1 million viewers overall from 9-10 p.m. ET) delivered the show's most-watched season premiere in seven years (since Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007, 12.130 million from 10-11 p.m.) and its biggest total-viewer result for any telecast since Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011 (10.613 million from 9-11 p.m.)

In adults 18-49, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" equaled its highest rating in the year since a two-hour season premiere on Sept. 25, 2013 (2.7) and jumped +31% versus May's season finale (1.6 on May 21).

The second season debut of "Chicago P.D." (1.9/6 in 18-49, 8.5 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET) won THE HOUR among ABC, CBS and NBC in total viewers with its biggest overall audience since the series premiere (8.589 million on Jan. 8).

In 18-49, "Chicago P.D." jumped +19% versus the show's season finale (1.9 vs. 1.6 on May 21). In adults 25-54, "Chicago P.D." equaled its series high (2.5).

This is NBC's first premiere-week Wednesday win in total viewers since Sept. 24, 2003 (with "Ed," "The West Wing" and "Law & Order"). It's also NBC's first fourth-quarter Wednesday win in total viewers since Dec. 3, 2008 ("Christmas in Rockefeller Center," "Life" and "Law & Order").

Projected "Live Plus Three Day" and "Live Plus Seven Day" Results:

Adult 18-49 Rating
Show... L+SD... L+3...L+7
Law & Order: SVU...2.1...3.0...3.2
Chicago P.D....1.9...2.8...3.0

Persons 2+ (Total Viewers)
Show... L+SD... L+3...L+7
Law & Order: SVU ... 10.1 million...12.4 million...12.9 million
Chicago P.D.... 8.5 million...11.1 million...11.8 million

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," 1.9/5; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.0/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 1.1/5; "Late Show," 0.4/2; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.7/3.

From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.3/4 in metered-market households and a 0.5/3 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" (1.0/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 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 0.2/2 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.

Photo courtesy of NBC

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