Two networks in particular got good news and bad news in the ratings Wednesday night, based on overnight Nielsens. The newest installment in NBC’s “Law & Order” franchise premiered to solid numbers, but the second episode of the network’s new spy show “Undercovers” dove into dangerously low ratings territory.

It was good news/bad news at ABC as well, with the Emmy-winning comedy "Modern Family" delivering the highest ratings of the night while the rest of the lineup struggled, according to TVbytheNumbers.com.

At 8 p.m. CBS’s "Survivor" averaged a 3.45 rating in the 18-49 demographic for the hour, ahead of Fox’s "Hell’s Kitchen" with a mean score of 2.8 in the same demo. ABC’s "The Middle" and "Better With You" had a 2.4 rating and a 2.1, respectively, in the top and bottom halves of the hour in the 18-49 demo, but NBC’s new J.J. Abrams spy saga "Undercovers" managed only a 1.6 average rating in 18-49, just a tad better than CW’s "America’s Next Top Model," which logged a 1.3 average.

At 9 p.m. "Modern Family" led the night with a 4.5 rating in the 18-49 demo, while ABC’s "Cougar Town" in the bottom half of the hour collected only a 2.9 rating in the 18-49 demo. CBS’s "Criminal Minds" averaged a 3.55 in 18-49, and the second episode of "Hell’s Kitchen" netted a 3.05 rating for the hour. NBC’s "Law & Order: SVU" had a 2.65 average for the hour in the 18-49 demographic, and CW’s "Hellcats" was last at 0.95 in the 18-49 demo for the hour.

The 10 p.m. hour was won by the "Law & Order: LA," which premiered with a rating of 3.1 for the hour in the 18-49 demo. CBS’s "The Defenders" had a 2.5 in the 18-49 demo, ahead of ABC’s "The Whole Truth" with a 1.3 average rating in 18-49 for the hour.

CBS was the top-ranked network overall Wednesday, with Fox second, NBC third and ABC settling for fourth despite “Modern Family’s” success.