"30 Rock" Ratings Record: Season 3 Premiere Draws Most Viewers Ever

Hollywood Reporter:

After an Emmy win, Tina Fey's devastating Sarah Palin impression and the primetime edition of "Saturday Night Live" warming up its Thursday night time period, the return of NBC's "30 Rock" was given a serious drum roll this season.

Thankfully, the comedy burst back into the spotlight strong: Last night's "Rock" premiere hit series-high numbers. The comedy was seen by 8.5 million viewers and earned a 4.1 preliminary adults 18-49 rating -- up 21% from its debut last year.

The "Rock" rating contains a minute of overrun from lead-in "The Office" (9.3 million, 4.7), which was up 12% this week, but that shouldn't shift its rating too much when the nationals are released. The performance finally gives NBC a glowing premiere-rating headline for its scripted programming this fall. And with next week's episode featuring a guest appearance by Oprah Winfrey, the show stands a firm shot at maintaining its record high for another round.

Read the whole story: Hollywood Reporter

Comments

[JazzPuff]

I think the following has heard and is now there. I hope that NBC shows them the respect they deserve and keep them in the BEST time slot. Continued success for such a great ensemble.

[research]

Tina Earned it with her SNL Palin performance.

I watched it for the first time.

[moveleft]

Wow...8.5 million viewers is a series BEST? NBC really is in the tank. Let's see how it does next week when the lookie loos hoping for another Palin sketch realized they tuned into one of the most overrated, uneven and unfunny shows on television. Sorry folks, this is not the "best show on TV," "brilliant" or any of the other sappy praise that people have heaped on it. It's OK, not the best or the worst. When they finally realize no-talent hacks like Tracy Morgan don't deserve to be on television (much less a weekly series), maybe I'll tune back in.

[nailinPaylin]

You need to keep watching, with Sarah Palin gone this Tuesday, Tina Fey doesn't have much of a backup job anymore. She has a kid too, wont you think of her kid?! lol

[gevan]

Last night, LAST NIGHT! Howcum nobody said anything about it?

[RRonin]

For the most watched episode of this fine show, the season opener was not among it's best. It's like they tried too hard to swing for the fences and only got a single.

[yoyobrit83]

This is my favorite comedy show right now.

The writing is pretty decent, but what makes the show is the delivery of the lines.

[Bluejay00234]

Im watching for Tina, I hope the writing gets better.

[trisha08]

I have loved 30 Rock for some time. Smart comedy and hilarious. Tina Fey is awesome as well as all the actors on the show.

[nailinPaylin]

I'm only watching this show for Tina Fey, but it isn't that good. Even when I'm stoned.

[nailinPaylin]

I don't like the cutesy music they play when something is supposed to be funny, too cheesy. How the hell did Tracy Morgan make his own video game? Did he code it himself or something? Also I thought it was dumb when that lay got hit in the head and they got a 'do over'.

[Archivist1000]

TINA .. why no PREGNANT PALIN skits???

THREE DAYS TO GO AND STILL NO MEDICAL RECORDS FROM PALIN www.palindeception.com

LOOKS LIKE IGNORING THIS ISSUE HAS WORKED !!!! THE MEDIA HAS NOT PRESSED HER ON OUR BEHALF AND NOW SHE IS GETTING AWAY WITH IT >>> ANOTHER BUSH/CHENEY TACTIC


IGNORE THE PEOPLE AND THEY GIVE UP!!!!

For a well-written and factual BLOG on why this is important .. take a few minutes to read THIS ... then write to all the NEWS agencies and DEMAND that they NOT LET PALIN GET AWAY with this!!

This lady makes sense! http://www.palindeception.com/

[nailinPaylin]

She's probably hiding an Abortion, that's prolly why she had to go to 6 schools to get a journalism degree or whatever lol, she had to run outta town after getting knocked up.

[Archivist1000]

HAHA that is funny!

........ and now that I think of it, not so far-fetched is it ?

[bored2tears]

Who *writes* these headlines. One would think "30 Rock"'s season premiere outrated the "MASH" finale.

I love the show, but it achieved only a "30 Rock" record.

It's kind of like a 500-pound man achieving his personal best in running a mile.

Not very meaningful, except to him.

Weak episode, too. I'm looking forward to the show getting back on track soon. And enough already with the celebrity guest stars. Those are always "30 Rock's" weakest.

[gps8001]

did the epi seem tame to anyone else?

[totalliberal]

NBC was trying to bury this show all last season. Moving it around, putting other shows in it's place. Did they think nobody would notice? I did.

[carrieanna]

Tina Fey is God.

[blastocyst]

I'm the least of this gem's admirers. I believe that there are not enough intelligent and discerning viewers about to appreciate it. It is so brilliant, that prolonged exposure could lead to blindness.