Last year, Showtime dramas “Ray Donovan” and “Masters of Sex” received lead-in support from flagship dramas “Dexter” and “Homeland,” respectively.
This year, they were paired together–and asked to go at it alone.
They survived. The premium network announced Wednesday that both series have been renewed for 12-episode third seasons.
“Both Ray Donovan and Masters of Sex are quintessentially Showtime: bold, provocative, premium television with production values at the top of the food chain,” says Showtime’s David Nevins. “These acclaimed shows are filled with complex and interesting characters and settings that will no doubt give audiences compelling television to invest in for seasons to come.”
According to Showtime’s press release, “Donovan” is averaging five million weekly viewers across all platforms. And in a sign of ongoing interest, viewership for its fifth episode bested the premiere by 16%.
“Masters” attracts 4 million weekly, all-format viewers. The fifth season two episode bested the season premiere by 18% and delivered a yearly high mark.
