UPDATED: Forget broadcast, now NBC’s “The Jay Leno Show” is fighting off a challenger from basic cable.
For the first time, NBC’s Leno experiment was beaten in the ratings by a non-sports program that wasn’t airing on the Big Four networks.
FX’s critically acclaimed outlaw motorcycle drama “Sons of Anarchy” bested “Leno Show” on Tuesday evening in the advertiser-coveted adult demo — drawing a 2.05 rating among adults 18-49 to Leno’s 1.8. “Anarchy” also topped ABC’s “The Forgotten” (1.9).
The news comes as Leno’s ratings continue to soften. Six weeks since his 10 p.m. debut, “Leno Show” hit a series low on Friday (1.2). Then episodes on Monday (1.4) and Wednesday (1.5) were the lowest yet for those respective nights, with Tuesday (1.8) matching its low.
NBC points out that recent baseball playoffs likely impacted Leno’s ratings. But while “Leno Show” fell, some of NBC’s 9 p.m. shows made gains. Tuesday’s “Biggest Loser” and Wednesday’s “Law & Order: SVU” hit season highs, yet didn’t help Leno. That could be worrisome, since one of the positive signs about Leno’s first few weeks at 10 p.m. was his ability to capitalize on a strong lead-in. The network notes that since “SVU” and “Loser” skew female, competitors airing baseball might have disproportionately helped the 9 p.m. shows by pre-empting some competition. 
That FX was the channel to overtake Leno will surely please the network’s showrunners, who had harsh words for Leno at the Television Critics Assn.’s press tour in July. NBC’s move to replace its dramas with Leno rankled some in the entertainment industry, particularly TV writers.

Source: http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/10/sons-of-anarchy-beats-leno-forgotten-for-first-time.html