Update: FOX’s heavily hyped summer series “Wayward Pines” got off to a disappointing start Thursday.
The inaugural episode earned a mere 1.0 adults 18-49 rating with 3.81 million viewers. It was the 9PM timeslot’s #4 broadcast program in both measures.
While the episode did face the challenge of airing against the season finales of “Scandal” and “The Blacklist,” neither drew an especially strong rating. The former posted a 2.3 in adults 18-49; the latter drew a 1.5.
Nonetheless, many will identify the competition — and the fact that FOX released the episode in advance of the television premiere — as bottlenecks on this week’s performance. “Wayward Pines” will have a chance to prove the validity of those claims next week. An original edition, the May 21 episode will air without fresh competition from the aforementioned ABC and NBC dramas.
FOX led into “Wayward” with “Bones” (1.0, 4.65 million).
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Barring an unusually favorable adults 18-49 skew, ratings for FOX’s “Wayward Pines” premiere will not provide ample cause for celebration.
Leading out of “Bones” (3.2 overnight household rating), the thriller drew a soft 2.9 overnight household rating.
As far as overnight ratings go, “Wayward Pines” was its timeslot’s fourth place network program. ABC’s “Scandal” led the hour with a 6.5, while NBC’s “The Blacklist” (5.2) and CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory” re-runs (4.8) also comfortably topped FOX’s “Wayward.”
While the race might be closer in adults 18-49 (demo and viewership data will be available at 11:15AM ET), “Wayward Pines” will doubtfully land any higher on the hierarchy.
In defending this week’s rating, supporters will likely draw attention to the fact that FOX made the episode available via web and on-demand channels in advance of Thursday night. While there could be validity to that excuse, it is worth noting that advance premieres are designed to create buzz — and thus stronger viewership. They are not supposed to significantly undermine the television broadcast.
The rating for next week’s episode will, nonetheless, serve to illuminate the issue. If a sizable number of potential viewers watched the “Wayward Pines” premiere in advance of Thursday’s telecast, they will presumably return for next week’s episode (which will also benefit from airing sans competition from “Scandal” and “The Blacklist”). The result would be a notable uptick.
