THE SOUND OF MUSIC LIVE! Dominates the Night with NBC's Best 18-49 Thursday Average, Excluding Sports, Since the Night of the "ER" Finale

THE SOUND OF MUSIC LIVE! (4.6/13 in 18-49 and 18.470 million viewers overall) dominated the night with NBC's best 18-49 Thursday average, excluding sports, since the night of the "ER" finale (5.2, April 2, 2009).

In total viewers, this is NBC's best Thursday average excluding sports since May 13, 2004 (FRASIER finale night, 22.597 million viewers).

· NBC won its fifth night in a row among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in 18-49 (12/1-5). It's the first time since June 2002 that NBC has won five nights in a row, excluding Olympics (since a six-night streak June 2-7, 2002; NBC's last in-season five-night streak was May 1-5, 2002).

· The top local market in metered market households came in Carrie Underwood's home state, with Oklahoma City giving the three-hour special a 20.7/28. NBC ranked #1 in primetime in all 56 metered markets.

Joe West Joins NBC's "The Sound of Music Live!" Cast Includes Michael Park, John Bolger

Proud mom Maura West (Ava, GENERAL HOSPITAL) with her son,
Joe, whose star is rising fast. Photo Credit: Sue Coflin/Max Photos

After an exhaustive nationwide search, seven talented young actors have won the coveted roles of the von Trapp children in NBC's musical production of "The Sound of Music Live!"

The three-hour telecast airs Thursday, Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

"The Sound of Music Live!" stars six-time Grammy Award winner Carrie Underwood as Maria and TRUE BLOOD star Stephen Moyer as Capt. Georg von Trapp. Moyer recently headlined in the stage version of the musical "Chicago" at the Hollywood Bowl.