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.