CABLE - Considering how dull things are on the broadcast networks at the moment, it’s amazing how much craziness is happening on cable. Last week was full of premieres and finales, with some fairing better than others. On the premiere side, the bizarre Wilfred (2.55m/1.2) managed the best demo the network has ever seen for a comedy premiere. Things also looked pretty solid for the debut of Suits (4.64m/1.6) on USA. That was just slightly off the performance of the Burn Notice (5.17m/1.7) season premiere. Also premiering were Falling Skies (5.9m/2), Louie (1.57m/.8), and Futurama (2.5m/1.1 – 2.47m/1.1).
*UPDATE* And now that I’ve fixed the Falling Skies numbers, the premiere looks much better.
On the big finale side of things, the good news for fans of the Song of Ice and Fire is that Game of Thrones (3.04m/1.4) went out with its best numbers yet. That bodes well for the future. Assuming HBO doesn’t follow the f’d up GRRM production schedule and make fans wait five years for the next season. The Killing (2.32m/.7) also went out to decent results, but in a whole different way. It’s possible the jacked up finale has already sunk the next premiere. There was also a season finale for Nurse Jackie (.83m/.3) and a series finale for United States of Tara (.38m/.1).
ABC – If nothing else, ABC gets credit for trying. Last week, in addition to The Bachelorette (7.76m/2.3), Extremem Makeover Weight Loss (5.72m/2), Wipeout (7.69m/2.4), and Food Revolution (2.58m/.8), the network debuted four more new shows. On the unscripted side, neither 101 Ways To Leave A Game Show (5.57m/1.9) or Expedition Impossible (7.74m/1.4) came screaming out of the gate. Things didn’t look much better for the new scripted shows Combat Hospital (5.32m/1.2) and Rookie Blue (5.83m/1.6). But I suppose it is the thought that counts, right?
NBC - While there are a pantload of problems at NBC, they have managed to stake out two full nights of summer and own them, thanks to America’s Got Talent (12.3m/3.4 – 13.49m/3.9) and The Voice (12.05m/4.4 – 10.01m/3.3). Away from those nights, things are not nearly as exciting. Miss USA (7.42m/2.2) kicked off the week, while Love Bites (2.03m/.8) and Friday Night Lights mopped up (2.97m/.8).
FOX - The reality train kept rolling last week, although it did lose a little steam. The week brought two episodes each from MasterChef (5.08m/2.2 – 4.2m/1.8) and So You Think You Can Dance (6.28m/2.2 – 6.52m/2).
CBS - Daytime Emmy Awards (5.49m/.8) and Chaos (3.24m/.5) bookended the week. Man… it makes you long for Big Brother, doesn’t it?
Clacked by Brett Love 
on Jun 28, 2011 @ 12:10 EST5EDT
I thought Falling Skies had 5.9 million viewers in premiere. Where did I go wrong?
*POST AUTHOR*
You didn’t go wrong. I mistakenly put the numbers for the rebroadcast in the post. I have updated it with the correction.
HBO starts filming season 2 of Game of Thrones the end of July – right after SDCC. Looks like they are schedule for a premiere next year.
Louie Louie Louie