NBC's The Sound of Music Live, a live production of the 1965 classic, starring Grammy Award winner Carrie Underwood, averaged 18.5 million total viewers last night, making it the most-watched program on television. It was the network's best Thursday night since the curtain closed on E.R. in 2009.
The ratings win supports NBC's live event strategy, which in 2013 included Sunday Night Football, The Voice and Million Second Quiz. Looking ahead to 2014, Today will broadcast a 3-hour live special documenting Virgin Galactic's first commercial spaceflight, as well as looking to add more awards shows.