So much for the omen of last week’s ratings drop for USA Network’s freshman “Fairly Legal.”
Down to a 0.7 rating with 3.06 million viewers despite airing behind the season finale of “Royal Pains,” “Legal” looked to be in trouble. If it could not even reap the full ratings benefit of a solidly-rated episode of its lead-in, how would it fare once forced to do battle without help from the popular medical dramedy?
The answer, however, is surprisingly well. “Fairly Legal” moved slightly upward in the viewer column–up to 3.26 million viewers–and bounced all the way back to a 0.9 in adults 18-49.
Though down from its early-season numbers, the ratings performance is nonetheless a good sign that “Legal” can perform independently of an original episodic lead-in.