Big Tuesday for NBC

'Biggest Loser,' 'SVU' bring in auds for Peacock

By VARIETY STAFF

NBC hasn't had many nights to call its own this season, but the Peacock dominated Tuesday's primetime ratings race with impressive numbers for the two-hour finale of "The Biggest Loser 2" and a dominant perf at 10 for "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." Skeins combined for the net's highest-rated Tuesday (excluding the Olympics) in more than five years.

According to preliminary nationals from Nielsen, the two-hour finale of the second edition of weight-loss skein "Biggest Loser" set series records (6.7 rating/16 share in adults 18-49, 15.9 million viewers overall); up 12% from the "Biggest Loser 1" finale last January and the best non-sports delivery for NBC in the time period since November 2001. NBC also cruised at 10 with "Law & Order: SVU" (6.5/16 in 18-49, 17.5 million viewers overall), which matched its second-best 18-49 score to date.

Fox ran second on the night in demos thanks to a good outing at 9 for "House" (second-place 5.6/13 in 18-49, 14.9 million viewers overall) and a solid number at 8 for "Bones" (third-place 3.0/8 in 18-49, 7.7 million viewers overall).

CBS won at 8 with "NCIS" (4.4/11 in 18-49, 17.9 million viewers overall), which approached series highs and was the night's most-watched program overall. Net was then below average at 9 with "Amazing Race" (3.4/8 in 18-49, 8.9 million viewers overall) and was nothing special at 10 with a special repeat of first-year drama "Criminal Minds" (2.7/7 in 18-49, 8.5 million viewers overall).

ABC saw fourth-place finishes in the opening hour for "Rodney" (2.7/7 in 18-49, 7.6 million viewers overall) and "Rodney" (2.8/7 in 18-49, 7.9 million viewers overall), which led into soft scores at 9 for "Commander in Chief" (3.5/8 in 18-49, 13.6 million viewers overall). Net was then above average at 10 with its annual "Barbara Walters... Most Fascinating People" spec (4.1/10 in 18-49, 12.9 million viewers overall).

The WB averaged a 1.2/3 in 18-49 and 4 million viewers overall for its original movie "Felicity: An American Girl Adventure."

Preliminary 18-49 averages for the night: NBC, 6.6/16; Fox, 4.3/11; CBS, 3.5/9; ABC, 3.4/8; UPN, 1.3/3; WB, 1.2/3.

In total viewers: NBC, 16.5 million; CBS, 11.8 million; ABC, 11.4 million; Fox, 11.3 million; WB, 4.0 million; UPN, 3.4 million.