CHICAGO FIRE Blazes On Amidst Tough Competition, 2/20

At 9 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1.7/4 in adults 18-49, 5.7 million viewers overall) grew week to week by 13 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.7 from a 1.5) to match its top rating since January 9 "SVU" Built on its lead-in by 55 percent in 18-49 rating and by 93 percent in total viewers. From its first half-hour to its second, "SVU" grew in every key ratings measure, with gains of 6 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.7 from a 1.4) and 12 percent in total viewers (6.0 million vs. 5.4 million).

Keep in mind that last season, "Law & Order: SVU" originals added an average of 47 percent to these next-day "live plus same day" ratings in 18-49 when Nielsen reported "live plus seven day" results.

At 10 p.m. ET, "Chicago Fire" (1.9/5 in adults 18-49, 6.4 million viewers overall) equaled last week's rating, making this the seventh consecutive telecast that's matched or beaten the show's debut 1.9 on October 10. Among all other new dramas this season on ABC, CBS and NBC and Fox, only Fox's "The Following" has matched or beaten its premiere 18-49 rating, which it's done one time. Last night's "Chicago Fire" Built on its lead-in by 12 percent in adults 18-49, 21 percent in adults 25-54 and 13 percent in total viewers. In the time period, "Chicago Fire" is #2 among ABC, CBS and NBC in 18-49 and most other key measures and tied for #1 in women 18-34.

From 8-8:30 p.m. ET, "Whitney" averaged a 1.1/3 in 18-49 and 3.3 million viewers overall, finishing within a tenth of a rating point of its 18-49 result for last week (1.1 vs. 1.2).

From 8:30-9 p.m. ET, "Guys With Kids" (1.1/3 in 18-49, 3.0 million viewers overall) is up week to week by 10 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.1 from a 1.0).

"Guys With Kids" retained 100 percent of its 18-49 lead-in from "Whitney," up from last week's 83 percent

In Late-Night Metered Markets Wednesday night:

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 2.7/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.6/7; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.1/6.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 Wednesday results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/4; "Late Show," 0.7/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.8/4.

From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET Wednesday night, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.3/4 in metered-market households and a 0.5/3 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/5 in metered-market households) tied CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.3/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.4/3 in 18-49) tied "Late Late Show" (0.4/3).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/4 in metered-market households and a 0.3/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

NOTE: All ratings are "live plus same day" from Nielsen Media Research unless otherwise indicated.

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