NBC PRIMETIME RATINGS RESULTS FOR SEPT. 17, 2009

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. � September 18, 2009 � The following are NBC primetime ratings results for September 17.

From 8-8:30 p.m. ET, NBC's "Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday" averaged a 2.0/7 in adults 18-49 and 5.7 million viewers overall. "Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday" matched NBC's highest non-sports 18-49 rating in the slot since April 30 and attracted NBC's biggest non-sports overall audience in the time period since April. 9.

From 8:30-9 p.m. ET, the second season premiere of "Parks and Recreation" delivered a 2.1/6 in adults 18-49 and 5.0 million viewers overall, improving on its 18-49 lead-in from "Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday" by 5 percent in adults 18-49 and 18 percent in adults 18-34 (2.0 vs. 1.7).

From 9-9:30 p.m. ET, the sixth season premiere of "The Office" averaged a 4.0/11 in adults 18-49 and 8.1 million viewers overall, making "The Office" the #1 telecast of the night in 18-49. In the time period, "The Office" was #1 among the major networks in every key demographic.

From 9:30-10 p.m. ET, the series premiere of "Community" delivered a 3.7/10 in adults 18-49 and 7.7 million viewers overall, retaining 93 percent of its 18-49 lead-in from "The Office." That's NBC's highest retention to date of an original "Office" lead-in in this time period. "Community" scored NBC's highest non-sports 18-49 rating and biggest non-sports overall audience in the time period since April 2, the night of the "ER" finale. "Community" won the time period in adults, men and women 18-34; adults, men and women 18-49; and adults and women 25-54.

From 10-11 p.m. ET, "The Jay Leno Show" averaged a 2.7 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49, a 3.3/9 in adults 25-54 and 8.5 million viewers overall.

"The Jay Leno Show" ranked #1 among the major networks in the time period in adults 18-49, #1 in adults 25-54 (the key demographic for late local news) and #2 in total viewers. Last night's time-period competition included CBS's "Mentalist" encore and ABC's "Private Practice" rebroadcasgt.

"The Jay Leno Show" delivered NBC's highest non-sports 18-49 rating in the time period since April 9 and biggest non-sports overall audience since April 16.

Versus Jay Leno's 2008-09 average at 11:35 p.m. ET on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," last night's telecast was up substantially in adults 18-49 (2.7 vs. 1.4), adults 25-54 (3.3 vs. 1.8) and total viewers (8.5 million vs. 5.1 million). Versus NBC's Monday-through-Friday 10-11 p.m. ET non-sports average over the prior 52 weeks, last night's telecast was also up substantially in adults 18-49 (2.7 vs. 2.2), adults 25-54 (3.3 vs. 2.7) and total viewers (8.5 million vs. 6.9 million).

NBC is #1 among the major networks for the night in adults, men and women 18-34 and men 18-49 (tie).

Preliminary 18-49 averages for Wednesday night are: Fox, 3.0/9; NBC, 2.9/8; CBS, 2.5/7; CW, 1.4.4; and ABC, 1.3/4. In overall total viewers, September 17 preliminary results are: CBS, 9.7 million; Fox, 9.0 million; NBC, 7.3 million; ABC, 4.4 million; and CW, 3.3 million.

Note that all national ratings are "live plus same day" unless otherwise indicated.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: What follows is the afternoon update with the final national Nielsen ratings.]

UPDATE: NBC PRIMETIME RATINGS RESULTS FOR SEPT. 17, 2009

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. � September 18, 2009 � The following are NBC updated primetime ratings results for September 17.

From 8-8:30 p.m. ET, NBC's "Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday" averaged a 2.0 rating, 6 share in adults 18-49 and 5.5 million viewers overall. "Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday" matched NBC's highest non-sports 18-49 rating in the slot since April 30 and attracted NBC's biggest non-sports overall audience in the time period since April. 23.

From 8:30-9 p.m. ET, the second season premiere of "Parks and Recreation" delivered a 2.1/6 in adults 18-49 and 4.9 million viewers overall, improving on its 18-49 lead-in from "Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday" by 5 percent in adults 18-49 and 22 percent in adults 18-34 (2.2 vs. 1.8).

From 9-9:30 p.m. ET, the sixth season premiere of "The Office" averaged a 4.1/12 in adults 18-49 and 8.2 million viewers overall, making "The Office" the #1 telecast of the night in 18-49. In the time period, "The Office" was #1 among the major networks in every key demographic.

From 9:30-10 p.m. ET, the series premiere of "Community" delivered a 3.8/10 in adults 18-49 and 7.9 million viewers overall, retaining 93 percent of its 18-49 lead-in from "The Office." That's NBC's highest retention to date of an original "Office" lead-in in this time period with regular-schedule programming in this time period, excluding last year's "Saturday Night Live" specials. "Community" scored NBC's highest non-sports 18-49 rating and biggest non-sports overall audience in the time period since April 2, the night of the "ER" finale. "Community" won the time period in all key demographics - adults, men and women 18-34; adults, men and women 18-49; and adults, men and women 25-54.

From 10-11 p.m. ET, "The Jay Leno Show" averaged a 2.7 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49, a 3.3/9 in adults 25-54 and 8.8 million viewers overall.

"The Jay Leno Show" ranked #1 among the major networks in the time period in adults 18-49, #1 in adults 25-54 (the key demographic for late local news) and #2 in total viewers. Last night's time-period competition included CBS's "Mentalist" encore and ABC's "Private Practice" rebroadcast.

"The Jay Leno Show" delivered NBC's highest non-sports 18-49 and total-viewer results in the time period since April 16.

Versus Jay Leno's 2008-09 average at 11:35 p.m. ET on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," last night's telecast was up substantially in adults 18-49 (2.7 vs. 1.4), adults 25-54 (3.3 vs. 1.8) and total viewers (8.8 million vs. 5.1 million). Versus NBC's Monday-through-Friday 10-11 p.m. ET non-sports average over the prior 52 weeks, last night's telecast was also up substantially in adults 18-49 (2.7 vs. 2.2), adults 25-54 (3.3 vs. 2.7) and total viewers (8.8 million vs. 6.9 million).

NBC is #1 among the major networks for the night in adults, men and women 18-34 and men 18-49.

Updated 18-49 averages for Thursday night are: Fox, 3.0/9; NBC, 2.9/9; CBS, 2.5/7; CW, 1.4.4; and ABC, 1.3/4. In overall total viewers, September 17 updated results are: CBS, 9.8 million; Fox, 9.1 million; NBC, 7.3 million; ABC, 4.4 million; and CW, 3.3 million.

Note that all national ratings are "live plus same day" unless otherwise indicated.