New NBC sitcoms play well

Two NBC comedies, “Whoopi” and “Happy Family,” performed solidly in their premieres Wednesday, though their viewerships are likely to decrease in coming weeks against stiffer competition in the new fall season.

“Whoopi,” starring Whoopi Goldberg as the manager of a New York hotel, drew more than 14.7 million viewers at 8 p.m., while “Happy Family,” with John Larroquette and Christine Baranski as the put-upon parents of adult children, attracted 14.5 million viewers at 8:30 p.m.

Both shows were first in their time periods. The only other first-run series in the time slot was CBS’ unscripted “Big Brother 4,” which attracted more than 9 million viewers.

-- Greg Braxton