Wednesday results: At 8 p.m. ET, “Mercy” averaged a 2.0/6 in adults 18-49 and 7.8 million viewers overall, earning week-to-week gains of 18 percent in 18-49 (2.0 vs. 1.7) and 17 percent in total viewers (7.8 million vs. 6.7 million). “Mercy” wrapped up its highest 18-49 rating since September 30 and biggest overall viewership since the show’s September 23 premiere. This week’s “Mercy” is up 25 percent versus NBC’s 1.6 average in this slot for the traditional 2008-09 season. In total viewers, “Mercy” is up 36 percent versus NBC’s 5.737 million in the hour during the traditional ’08-09 season.
For the fourth time this season, “Mercy” won the hour in total viewers. “Mercy” also finished within 1 share of the time-period lead in adults 18-49.
At 9 p.m. ET, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” averaged a 2.6/7 in adults 18-49 and 8.4 million viewers overall. From its first half-hour to its second, “Law & Order: SVU” increased its 18-49 rating by 17% (to a 2.8 from a 2.4), the biggest increase on a major network in the time period. Last night’s “Law & Order: SVU” is up 53 percent in 18-49 versus NBC’s 1.7 average in this slot for the traditional 2008-09 season. In total viewers, “SVU” is up 44% versus NBC’s 5.854 million average in the hour during the traditional ’08-09 season.
From 10-11 p.m. ET, “The Jay Leno Show” averaged a 1.4 rating, 4 share in adults 18-49; a 1.7/5 in adults 25-54 and 4.8 million viewers overall. Last night’s time-period competition included CBS’s “CSI: NY” and the ABC special “In the Spotlight: Janet Jackson.”
“The Jay Leno Show” matched its 18-49 rating of the prior Wednesday and is up 3% in total viewers.
Comparisons to Jay Leno’s 2008-09 average at 11:35 p.m. ET on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” are: in adults 18-49, 1.4 vs. 1.4; adults 25-54, 1.7 vs. 1.8; and total viewers, 4.8 million vs. 5.1 million. Comparisons with NBC’s Monday-through-Friday 10-11 p.m. ET non-sports averages over the 52 weeks prior to Jay’s debut are: in adults 18-49, 1.4 vs. 2.2; in adults 25-54, 1.7 vs. 2.7; and in total viewers, 4.8 million vs. 6.9 million.
In Late-Night Local People Meters Wednesday night:
Conan O’Brien (1.0/4 in 18-49 in local people meters) trailed CBS’s LATE SHOW (1.1/5) in Nielsen’s 24 local markets with People Meters.
At 12:35 a.m., Jimmy Fallon (0.5/3 in 18-49 in local people meters) trailed CBS’s LATE LATE SHOW (0.7/4).
(source: data and information provided by NBC. – NOTE: All national ratings are “live plus same day” unless otherwise indicated. Metered-market household ratings are “live only.”)
