Demographic data might prove more favorable, but based on the overnight metered market ratings, the “Smash” season two premiere was not a smash hit.
Update: Forget “underwhelming,” “Smash” was an all-out flop. The two-hour premiere delivered a mere 1.1 adults 18-49 with 4.5 million viewers. Its viewership count dropped in every half hour segment.
According to TV Media Insights, the two-hour premiere garnered a soft 3.7 rating. Down considerably from the show’s post-“The Voice” series premiere last spring (7.7), the show’s audience also decreased with each passing half hour.
Based on how the show skewed last year, an adults 18-49 rating in the 1.5-2.0 range is likely for this week. A passable range given the serialized nature of the show, absence of lead-in support from “The Voice” and the struggles facing many NBC series this year, it also indicates that hype for the premiere and the casting of Jennifer Hudson did nothing to help grow the fanbase.