TV Ratings: Young viewers embrace 'Glee' premiere on Wednesday

Lea Michele of 'Glee'

Credit: FOX

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009.

FOX's "Glee" drew a big young audience (but a so-so older audience) in its premiere/return on Wednesday night, but the swift return of "So You Think You Can Dance" may be showing a little fatigue.

Also only drawing a so-so returning audience was The CW's "America's Next Top Model," though it temporarily moved the netlet out of the ratings basement in some measures.

For the night, NBC won overall, but FOX dominated the key demographic.

Among adults 18-49, FOX averaged a 3.0 rating on Wednesday, far ahead of the 1.9 rating for NBC and ABC's 1.6 rating. The CW spent a rare night out of fifth place with a 1.5 rating, beating the 1.3 rating for CBS.

Overall, though, NBC averaged an estimated 8.11 million viewers to go with a 5.2 rating/8 share. FOX's 4.2/7 was second on the night, nipping the 4.1/7 for CBS. ABC's 3.4/6 and the 2.2/4 for The CW followed.

In the 8 p.m. hour three of the networks aired President Obama's address to Congress, led by NBC with a 5.2/9. ABC was second on the hour. The season premiere of "So You Think You Can Dance" averaged only a 3.9/6 overall, with 6.47 million viewers, but the FOX show's 2.7 demo rating won the hour. CBS' presidential coverage took fourth, beating the 2.1/3 (with a 1.4 demo rating) for The CW's "America's Next Top Model" premiere.

NBC stayed in first at 9 p.m. with a 6.0/9 for "America's Got Talent." The premiere/return of FOX's "Glee" averaged a 4.6/7 overall, with 7.32 million viewers, but it was the 3.3 rating among adults 18-49 (and sparkling numbers among younger viewers and women) that will make FOX happy. CBS' "Criminal Minds" was third, beating the 3.0/5 for ABC's "Wipeout." The CW's "America's Next Top Model" improved to a 2.3/4 in its second hour.

CBS' "CSI: NY" and NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" tied for the 10 p.m. win with a 4.3/7, though NBC held the advantage in both total viewers and in the 18-49 demo. ABC's "Primetime" special trailed.

All ratings information comes from preliminary Fast National Nielsen data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are subject to change.