Musical Numbers

Early ratings are in for the season premiere of the new Fox comedy Glee, which was viewed by some 7.3 million “Gleeks” last night and received a 3.3 rating for adults aged 18-49, according to the Hollywood Reporter. These are pretty strong numbers for the music-filled comedy, which boasts theatre stars Lea Michele and Matthew Morrison among its ensemble.

In comparison, the May pilot of Glee was seen by 9.6 million, bolstered by its timeslot, which immediately followed the finale of American Idol.

The Sept. 9 premiere of Glee also topped its lead-in, So You Think You Can Dance, which returned for an added fall run, earning 6.5 million viewers (down from its summer bow). The first several minutes of Glee aired opposite President Barack Obama’s address to Congress regarding healthcare, which spilled over from its 8 PM timeslot on other major networks.

Songs heard on last night’s episode of Glee, including Lea Michele’s “Take a Bow,” are currently available for download on iTunes. In case any “Gleeks” out there didn’t watch it or DVR it, the premiere episode “Showmance” is also available to watch on Hulu.