Looks like NBC's big gamble paid off--those are some truly impressive numbers, at one point even eclipsing ratings for The Big Bang Theory. Carrie Underwood's acting got a lot of flak; then again, she's not really an actress, but most importantly, she really nailed the singing, which is all that matters.
I was skeptical at first, but my doubts turned around when I heard her recorded version of The Lonely Goatherd, which I think is the supreme test for anyone playing Maria Von Trapp, LOL