Wednesday Results:

* At 9 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1.8/5 in adults 18-49, 6.2 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 29 percent in 18-49 rating and by 47 percent in total viewers. From its first half-hour to its second, "SVU" grew by 19 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 1.9 from a 1.6) and by 13 percent in total viewers (6.6 million vs. 5.8 million).

* "SVU" topped NBC's time-period average last season by 80 percent in 18-49 rating (with a 1.8 vs. a 1.0) and by 27 percent in total viewers (6.184 million vs. 4.868 million) in a highly competitive time period versus ABC's hour of "Modern Family," CBS's "Criminal Minds" and Fox's "The X Factor."

* Keep in mind that last season, "Law & Order: SVU" originals added an average of 47 percent to these next-day "live plus same day" ratings in 18-49 when Nielsen reported "live plus seven day" results.

* At 10 p.m. ET, the debut of "Chicago Fire" (1.9/5 in adults 18-49, 6.4 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 6 percent in 18-49 rating and 4 percent in total viewers, despite stiff competition in the slot from ABC's premiere of "Nashville" and CBS's "CSI," plus Orioles-Yankees and Tigers-Athletics playoff baseball on cable. "Chicago Fire" ranked #2 in the hour among ABC, CBS and NBC in adults 18-34 (tie) and women 18-34. "Chicago Fire" maintained its 1.9 rating in 18-49 from its first half-hour to its second.

* "Chicago Fire" improved on NBC's averages in the slot last season by 19 percent in 18-49 (with a 1.9 rating vs. a 1.6) and 4 percent in total viewers (6.438 million vs. 5.726 million).

* From 8-8:30 p.m. ET, "Animal Practice" averaged a 1.1/3 in 18-49 and 3.9 million viewers overall in a highly competitive time period versus Fox's "The X Factor," CBS's "Survivor," ABC's "The Middle" and CW's premiere of "Arrow," plus playoff baseball on cable

* From 8:30-9 p.m. ET, "Guys With Kids" (1.4/4 in 18-49, 4.2 million viewers overall) built on its 18-49 lead-in by 27 percent, the biggest build on lead-in for any 8:30 comedy on ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox so far this season (pending updates). "Guys With Kids" has now built on its lead-in with three of three telecasts in this slot, while no 8:30 comedy on ABC, CBS or Fox this season has built on its lead-in once. "Guys With Kids" improved on NBC's average in the time period last season by 8 percent in 18-49 rating (with a 1.4 vs. a 1.3, L+SD non-sports) and was up 6 percent in total viewers (4.196 million vs. 3.970 million), despite intense time-period competition last night from Fox's "The X Factor," CBS's "Survivor," ABC's "The Neighbors" and CW's premiere of "Arrow," plus playoff baseball on cable

In Late-Night Metered Markets Wednesday night:

* In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 2.7/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.5/7; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.3/8; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.7/5.

* In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/4; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 1.2/5; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

* At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.4/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/4 with an encore). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2 with an encore).

* At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 in metered-market households and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

NOTE: All ratings are "live plus same day" from Nielsen Media Research unless otherwise indicated.