NBC takes the Leno leap

September 13, 2009 Wednesday night's conceptually risky "Glee" (7.5 million viewers, 3.5 rating in the adults 18-49 demographic) was the network's highest-rated scripted fall series premiere in three years, and Thursday's "Vampire Diaries" (4.9 million, 2.1) was the CW's most-watched series premiere. Both scored well in the networks' internal "intent to view" tracking polls leading up to their premieres, which should give other shows that rank higher on that list some hope. [...] fans said there were more likely to watch NBC's new dramas and comedy than the network's most crucial gamble, "The Jay Leno Show," which premieres Monday night.

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