Update: The series premiere of “The Mysteries of Laura” drew a 2.1 adults 18-49 rating with 10.4 million viewers.
The overall 2.1 rating was the best for any network, non-sports program in the Wednesday at 10PM timeslot since February 26.
After opening with a 2.3 and 11.3 million viewers in the 10:01-10:30PM slot, “Laura” posted a 1.9 with 9.6 million from 10:30-11PM.
NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” finale, which led into “Laura,” drew a 2.3 adults 18-49 rating with 12.0 million viewers from 8-10:01PM. The 9:30PM half hour that provided the most direct support for NBC’s new drama delivered a 2.7 with 13.3 million.
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Benefiting from light competition and solid lead-in support (from the “America’s Got Talent” season finale), NBC’s “The Mysteries of Laura” got off to a strong start in the overnight ratings race.
While there is no guarantee its performance in adults 18-49 rating will be quite as favorable, there is no denying that the show’s 6.6 overnight household rating is an impressive one.
Given the aforementioned factors, excitement must nonetheless come with caution. Even if the show’s adults 18-49 number also reveals itself as strong, the premiere performance will mean nothing if “Mysteries” cannot retain its audience when lead-in support dwindles and competition intensifies.
The episode’s viewership bleed–it opened with a 7.1 overnight rating from 10-10:30PM before slipping to a 6.1 in the latter half hour–does not inspire optimism about that retention ability, but it also must be evaluated in context. The 9:30-10PM portion of “America’s Got Talent” scored a 8.6, and “Laura” was inevitably going to take a hit as many of those “AGT”-viewing households began departing NBC.