NBC's PETER PAN LIVE! Ratings More Than Doubles Network's Thursday Season Average

After months of hype and anticipation, NBC last night aired its live broadcast of the classic musical PETER PAN. The production starred Allison Williams as the boy who refuses to grow up and Oscar winner Christopher Walken as the villainous Captain Hook. Broadway veterans Kelli O'Hara, Christian Borle and Taylor Louderman also lent their talents to the show along with an all-star creative team.

Today, NBC reports the early ratings for the broadcast:

The 5.9 in metered-market households for "Peter Pan Live!" is NBC's second-highest rating for a non-sports Thursday in more than two years (since the "America's Got Talent" finale on Sept. 13, 2012), trailing over that span only "The Sound of Music Live!" on Dec. 5, 2013.

The 5.9 more than doubles NBC's Thursday season average (5.9 vs. 2.8, +111%).

With a 2.6 rating in 18-49 in the Local People Meters, NBC equaled its second-highest Thursday average, excluding sports, in three-and-a-half years (since April 28, 2011, the night of Steve Carell's departure from "The Office," 2.9) trailing over that span only "The Sound of Music Live!" on Dec. 5, 2013.

"Peter Pan Live!" (2.3/7 in 18-49, 9.1 million viewers overall from 8-11 p.m. ET):
In 18-49, delivered NBC's second-highest-rated Thursday, excluding sports, in three years (since Sept. 22, 2011).
Is up +121% versus NBC's Thursday season average (9.129 million vs. 4.127 million).
More than doubled NBC's Thursday non-sports season average in 18-49 (2.3 vs. 1.1, L+SD).

NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt said in a statement, "We're very pleased with the Peter Pan ratings and it was a great night for NBC. We won every hour, which hasn't happened on Thursday with entertainment programming since a year ago. I'm proud to be part of a company that takes chances and creates big events, and that's exactly what we're going to continue to do.

We didn't expect to reach the same rating as The Sound of Music since that was the first live movie event of its kind in over 50 years. But the high wire act of Peter Pan was a joy for everyone involved and I take my hat off to Allison Williams, Christopher Walken, the entire company, and our incredible directors and producers for three months of the hardest work I've ever seen. I love these live events and we're already working on putting the next one together. "