Great news for Bionic fans, as the show beat rival newbie ‘Private Practice’ in the Nielsen ratings war:
Media people tabbed “Bionic Woman” as either a potential breakout or a potential bomb, but few probably expected it to do what it did last night. The NBC drama’s premiere outdrew the debut of ABC’s highly anticipated “Grey’s Anatomy” spinoff “Private Practice” and nearly boosted NBC to No. 1 on a night where it has long struggled.
“Bionic” averaged a 5.5 adults 18-49 rating at 9 p.m., according to Nielsen overnights, 8 percent better than “Practice” still-solid 5.1 rating.
NBC came very close to besting ABC on the night, averaging a 4.1 rating and 11 share to the latter’s 4.2/11. It was NBC’s top Wednesday premiere week rating since 2004 and was up 37 percent over its 3.0 rating for premiere week last year.
“Bionic,” which is now the fall’s top new premiere and NBC’s best Wednesday series premiere since “The West Wing” in 1999, built from its first half hour to its second among 18-49s, while “Practice” was flat.
