Mariska Hargitay Blames NBC and Jay Leno Show for Lower SVU Ratings
Mariska Hargitay, Jay Leno
Conan O'Brien isn't the only who has a bone to pick with NBC.
"It ruined our numbers," Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star Mariska Hargitay told More magazine of The Jay Leno Show. Leno's show bumped her series to 9 o'clock from its longtime 10 o'clock time slot. "The first four episodes, we were considerably down because nobody knew when the show was on. Finally, we're starting to find our audience again."
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The show's new season premiered to 8.35 million viewers and a 2.5 rating in the 18-to-49 demo last September. A year earlier, Law & Order: SVU's season premiere attracted 9.7 million and a 3.8 rating.
Hargitay was interviewed before NBC's announcement that Leno's show would move out of prime time on Feb. 12. The Emmy winner told the magazine she hoped "we go back to where we belong. It was doing so well. Why mess with it?"
NBC now agrees. The peacock network will move Law & Order: SVU to Wednesdays at 10/9 starting March 3 but also continue to air repeats at 9/8c.
Are you glad to see Law & Order: SVU back at 10 o'clock?