NBC's unconventional new comedy, which stars Jason Lee as a petty thief who decides to right the wrongs he has committed after winning the lottery, bowed at 9 p.m. to 15.3 million viewers and a 6.6 rating/16 share in the adults 18-49 demographic, according to Nielsen Media Research. "Earl," from 20th Century Fox TV, impressed by soaring more than 6 million viewers and six demo share points from its modest 8 p.m. lead-in, "The Biggest Loser" (7.9 million, 3.4/10); it also put a dent in the turnout for the first half-hour of Fox's 9 p.m. hotshot "House" (13.6 million, 4.9/12), which finished with healthy vital signs but had to make up a lot of ground in its second half-hour. The sophomore season debut of "The Office" (9 million, 4.3/10) plunged from its lead-in, despite the fact that star Steve Carrell is still riding high in theaters as the star of the summer comedy hit "The 40-Year-Old Virgin."

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