NBC's CHICAGO FIRE Sees 20% Ratings Jump

At 10 p.m. ET, CHICAGO FIRE (1.8/5 in adults 18-49, 6.3 million viewers overall) jumped week to week by 20 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.8 from a 1.5) and 8 percent in total viewers (6.297 million vs. 5.849 million), despite last night's World Series competition. Last night's 1.8 rating is within a tenth of a point of "Chicago Fire's" debut 1.9, making it the first new drama this season to finish within a tenth of its premiere rating in week three Last night's "Chicago Fire" retained 100 percent of its 18-49 lead-in from "SVU." From its first half-hour to its second, "Chicago Fire" maintained 100 percent of its 18-49 rating and grew by 2 percent in total viewers (6.4 million vs. 6.2 million). "Chicago Fire" is currently the only drama on ABC, CBS or NBC in the hour that didn't decline half-hour to half-hour in 18-49 or total viewers (pending updates).

Other NBC ratings highlights:

* At 9 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1.8/5 in adults 18-49, 6.7 million viewers overall) captured week-to-week increases of 13 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.8 from a 1.6) and 7 percent in total viewers (6.682 million vs. 6.245 million), despite special competition last night from Fox's coverage of Game 1 of the World Series. Last night's "SVU," the show's 300th episode, built on its lead-in by 38 percent in 18-49 rating and by 74 percent in total viewers. From its first half-hour to its second, "SVU" grew by 12 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.9 from a 1.7) and by 19 percent or nearly 1.2 million persons in total viewers (7.3 million vs. 6.1 million).

* "SVU" topped NBC's time-period average last season by 80 percent in 18-49 rating (with a 1.8 vs. a 1.0) and by 37 percent or 1.8 million persons in total viewers (6.682 million vs. 4.868 million) in a highly competitive time period versus ABC's "Modern Family" and "Suburgatory," CBS's "Criminal Minds" and Fox's World Series.

* Keep in mind that last season, "Law & Order: SVU" originals added an average of 47 percent to these next-day "live plus same day" ratings in 18-49 when Nielsen reported "live plus seven day" results.

* From 8-8:30 p.m. ET, "Animal Practice" (1.2/4 in 18-49, 3.8 million viewers overall) grew week to week by 9 percent in 18-49 rating in a highly competitive time period versus CBS's "Survivor," ABC's "The Middle," Fox's World Series and " CW's "Arrow."

* From 8:30-9 p.m. ET, "Guys With Kids" (1.3/4 in 18-49, 3.8 million viewers overall) built on its 18-49 lead-in by 8 percent despite last night's special competition from Fox's Game 1 of the World Series. The increase gives "Guys With Kids" a build on lead-in with each of its five telecasts to date in this time period. The only other 8:30 comedy on ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox this season to build on its 18-49 lead-in even once is NBC's "Up All Night."

In Late-Night Metered Markets Wednesday night:

* "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," with featured guest President Barack Obama, delivered the show's highest overnights for a Wednesday telecast in more than two-and-a-half years (since March 3, 2010 during Jay Leno's first week back as host of "Tonight"), with a 4.0 rating,10 share in metered-market households.

* Last night's edition improved on "Tonight's" Wednesday season average in metered-market households by 48 percent (4.0 vs. 2.7). Total-viewer results aren't due from Nielsen until the late-night week is reported nationally on November 1. Note that through three weeks, NBC had been averaging 3.4 million viewers with its Wednesday telecasts.

* At 12:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" scored the show's highest overnights for a Wednesday edition in more than three years (since June 3, 2009), with a 1.9 rating, 7 share in metered-market households.

* In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 4.0/10; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.6/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.2/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.6/5.

* In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.3/6; "Late Show," 0.7/4; "Nightline," 1.1/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

* At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.9/7 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.3/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/3).

* At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.0/4 in metered-market households with an encore 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.

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