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Viewership dips for NBC’s live showing of ‘Hairspray’

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This image released by NBC shows Garrett Clayton as Link Larkin, center left, and Derek Hough as Corny Collins, center right, during a rehearsal of "Hairspray Live!," airing on Dec. 7. Sets for the musical were designed by Broadway set designer Derek McLane. (Trae Patton/NBC via AP)

NEW YORK – NBC’s live presentation of the musical “Hairspray” reached 9 million viewers, making it the least-watched of the four musicals it has aired, starting when the 2013 presentation of “The Sound of Music” created a sensation.

The Nielsen company said Thursday that the three-hour telecast did manage to beat Fox’s hit “Empire” head-to-head. It was also NBC’s top-rated Wednesday night show among young viewers in four years, excluding Olympic telecasts.

Three years ago “The Sound of Music: Live!” reached 18.6 million viewers. NBC’s presentation of “Peter Pan: Live!” dipped to 9.2 million in 2014 but ratings rebounded for “The Wiz: Live!” in 2015. That show reached 11.5 million people.

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