Law & Order on NBC

This Wednesday, as Bones, Christine, Gary, K.I.T.T., the Criminal Minds and the CSIs of NY took a rest....

8 pm/ET
CBS' Rudolph shiny-nosed his way to the top of the pack, delivering 11.7 million total viewers and dominating the demos. NBC's coverage of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting came in second with 10.35 million.

Placing third was Fox's Secret Millionaire, which premiered to an audience of 7.37 mil. Pushing Daisies followed with 4.9 mil, a 10 percent bump from its previous outing.

9 pm
In a four-horse race, Life took advantage of Criminal Minds's absence by surging 52 percent, to a season-high 8.1 million viewers. Trailing Secret Millionaire's second hour, Private Practice (7.84 mil) saw a 26 percent gain. CBS' Grammy noms special placed fourth with 7.15 mil.

10 pm
Monopolizing this Wednesday's crime-drama audience, Law & Order soared 80 percent week-to-week, claiming a season's best 11.27 million viewers. It was followed by CBS' Victoria's Secret Fashion Show (8.73 mil, up 17 percent year-over-year) and Dirty Sexy Money (up a hair, to 5.7 mil).

Christmas in Rockefeller Center
8 pm/ET NBC
Bright lights, big city, indeed. Hosts Al Roker and Jane Krakowski pull the switch in tonight's 76th annual Christmas-tree lighting in Manhattan, a grand gala twinkling with time-honored holiday songs and current hits.

Read on for previews of Grammy Nominations Concert Live! — Countdown to Music's Biggest Night, Pushing Daisies, Victoria's Secret Fashion Show and Law & Order. read more 1 Comment

All is right again in the TV world, because our favorite Jacks are back on the case: Law & Order's crafty DA Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston), who's running for reelection; and 24's tireless Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland), who's running from retribution when not saving civilization. Both have been known to bend the rules to win.

And both shows have been sorely missed: 24 postponed a year because of the writers' strike, and a rejuvenated Order inexplicably left off the fall lineup but suddenly restored this month to prop up NBC's ailing schedule ... read more 5 Comments

Wednesday's ratings recap:

8 pm/ET
A special election-delayed broadcast of the Dancing with the Stars results show averaged 15.6 million total viewers, and thus played havoc with the competition. While Bones (10.1 mil) fought the good fight, dipping just 250K from its last outing, Knight Rider found water in its tank, skidding 29 percent to hit 5.14 mil. Similarly, CBS' Christine (6.57 mil) and Gary (6.44 mil) both dropped about 16 percent. Top Model matched last week's 3.94 mil.

9 pm
Criminal Minds topped the hour with 14.29 million viewers, up 480K. Goosed by a stronger (non-Daisies) lead-in, Private Practice surged 23 percent to a season-high 9.54 mil. NBC's relocated Life (5.82 mil) was up 320K from its last Friday airing, and the CW's Stylista inched up 130K, to two mil.

10 pm
Trailing CSI: NY (which at 11.75 mil was down 14 percent), Law & Order's 19th season premiered to an audience of 7.85 mil. That's down slightly from its May season finale, and a full 40 percent off from its previous season opener. Dirty Sexy Money inherited third place from Lipstick Jungle, delivering 6.25 mil (up 170K).