Ratings: Mysteries of Laura Cops Big Numbers Leading Out of Talent Finale, Red Band Society Opens Low

Wednesday’s premiere of NBC’s poorly reviewed The Mysteries of Laura drew 10.2 million total viewers and a 2.0 demo rating (per finals), in a special time slot leading out of the America’s Got Talent finale.

That’s up sharply from Ironside‘s year-ago debut (6.8 mil/1.3) and marks TV’s most watched series launch since Believe (which in March led out of The Voice with 10.6 mil).

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Worth noting: In fast nationals, Laura — which TVLine readers gave an average grade of “C+” —  opened with 11.3 mil and a 2.3, then slipped to 9.6 mil/1.9 in its second half hour.

The Debra Messing starrer moves to its regular, Wednesdays-at-8 time slot next week, where it will face off against Hell’s Kitchen, Survivor, The Middle/The Goldbergs and, eventually, Arrow.

The aforementioned AGT (12.2 mil/2.4) was up 10 percent in viewers but down a tenth in the demo from its previous finale.

The night’s other big bow, Fox’s Red Band Society, presented with a slow pulse, sadly, drawing 4.1 million viewers and a 1.3 rating — down significantly from The X Factor‘s year-ago numbers (7.3 mil/2.2) in the time slot. That said, the heartwarmer’s numbers held steady throughout the hour. TVLine readers gave the premiere a “B+.”

Over on CBS, Big Brother (6.7 mil/2.2) dipped 4 percent and two tenths, while the Extant finale (5.4 mil/1.0) popped 20 and 25 percent. Versus its June launch, the summer series — which TVLine readers gave an overall grade of “C+” — wound up down 43 and 37 percent.

Elsewhere: Hell’s Kitchen opened Fox’s night with 4 mil/1.4, dipping 9 percent and a tenth…. The CW’s Penn & Teller: Fool Us (1.6 mil/0.5) was flat.

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