Ratings: ‘Hairspray Live’ Sings and Dances to 8.9 Million Viewers

“Hairspray Live” hauled in 8.918 million total viewers, according to preliminary Nielsen numbers. With those subject to adjust up in final figures, will it eventually overtake “Peter Pan Live’s” 9.211 million tally?

We’ll find that answer out soon enough, but for now, we know it was enough to top “Empire” among their overall audience tallies — it also handed NBC the No. 1 primetime slot outright on Wednesday. However, Fox’s hip-hop soap actually took its 9 o’clock hour in the key 18-49 demographic.

Read all about “Hairspray’s” earlier overnight numbers here, which placed it down 25 percent from December 2015’s “The Wiz Live.” The 18-49 people meters saw this year’s musical drop 40 percent from last year’s.

Also Read: 'Hairspray Live' Drops 25 Percent From 'The Wiz' in Early Ratings

NBC was first in ratings with a 2.3 rating/8 share in the advertiser-coveted demo and in total viewers with an average of 8.9 million, according to preliminary numbers. “Hairspray Live” was only show on NBC’s primetime schedule.

Fox was second in ratings with a 1.9/7 and third in viewers with 6.6 million. “Lethal Weapon” at 8 p.m. had a 1.4/5 and 6.2 million viewers. “Empire” at 9 earned a 2.5/8 and 7 million viewers.

CBS was third in ratings with a 1.4/5 and second in viewers with 7.6 million. “Survivor” at 8 got a 1.7/6 and 8.3 million viewers. At 9, “Criminal Minds” put up a 1.3/4 and 7.7 million viewers, beating “Empire” by the latter metric for the first time ever. “Code Black” at 10 received a 1.1/4 and 6.7 million viewers.

Also Read: 'Hairspray Live' Star Derek Hough on What Could Go Wrong Tonight

ABC was fourth in ratings with a 1.2/4 and in viewers with 4.8 million. “The Goldbergs” at 8 had a 1.5/6 and 5.4 million viewers. At 8:30, “Speechless” got a 1.3/4 and 4.6 million viewers. After a rerun, the 9:30 “Black-ish” received a 1.2/4 and 4.2 million viewers. “Designated Survivor” at 10 closed out primetime to a 1.1/4 and 5.2 million viewers.

Univision and Telemundo tied for fifth in ratings, both with a 0.7/2. Univision was fifth in total viewers with 1.9 million, Telemundo was sixth with 1.7 million.

The CW was seventh in ratings with a 0.5/2 and in viewers with 1.4 million. “Arrow” at 8 had a 0.7/2 and 1.9 million viewers. At 9, “Frequency” settled for a 0.2/1 and 874,000 viewers.