TNT’s period crime drama “Public Morals” didn’t generate a lot of heat in its debut Tuesday night.
In Nielsen’s “live plus same-day” estimates, the 1960s-set series from writer-producer Edward Burns averaged a 0.28 rating in 18-49 and 2.14 million viewers overall — retaining less than half of its sizable lead-in from veteran crime procedural “Rizzoli & Isles” (0.63 in 18-49, 4.59 million viewers overall). By comparison, former Tuesday-at-10 timeslot occupant “Proof” opened in June with a 0.37 in the demo (and 2.6 million total viewers) and closed last week with a 0.33 (and 2.12 million overall).
As is usually the case with period dramas, “Public Morals” fared best among the key demos in adults 25-54. In this category, it did a respectable 0.45 rating, or a little more than half of what “Rizzoli” delivered (0.88).
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TNT, which continues to score well with its modern-day crimers like “Rizzoli” and “Major Crimes” and has seen decent season-two numbers for “Murder in the First,” also generated soft ratings the last time it ventured into period crime-drama terrritory (with Frank Darabont series “Mob City” in late 2013).
Elsewhere in cable, OWN’s “The Haves and the Have Nots” (0.98 rating in 18-49, 3.20 million viewers overall) heated up a few weeks from its season-ender. These were the second highest numbers of summer for the Tyler Perry soap, which stood as cable’s No. 1 original of the night in 18-49, 25-54 (1.3) and total viewers.
One week from its finale, MTV’s rookie drama “Scream” hit season lows in the broad demos of adults 18-49 (0.28 rating) and total viewers (554,000) — down sharply from its premiere-night averages (0.45 in 18-49, 1.03 million total viewers). The already-renewed adaptation of the slasher film series of the same name has held up better in adults 18-34, with its 0.42 rating on Tuesday in line with its prior five-week average (0.44), and it is summer’s No. 1 new scripted basic cable series in this demo.
Also a week from its conclusion, FX’s sophomore drama “Tyrant” had one of its better same-day performances of late (0.42 in 18-49, 1.23 million viewers overall), ranking fourth among scripted cable originals on the night in 18-49.
NBC won the night overall with “America’s Got Talent” (2.2/8 in 18-49, 10.34 million viewers overall), which was Tuesday’s No. 1 show in all key categories and was up a tick from the comparable episode of a year ago. CBS’ “Zoo” continued its up-and-down ratings run (1.1/4 in 18-49, 6.18 million viewers overall), rising a tenth from last week.
WEDNESDAY’S TOP ORIGINAL PRIMETIME PROGRAMS
Adults 18-49 rating
1. America’s Got Talent (NBC), 2.2
2. Zoo (CBS), 1.14
3. Hollywood Game Night (NBC), 1.08
4. The Haves and the Have Nots (OWN), 0.98
5. Ink Master (Spike), 0.75
6. Tosh.0 (Comedy), 0.67
7. Extreme Weight Loss (ABC), 0.65
7. Rizzoli & Isles (TNT), 0.63
9. Counting Cars (History), 0.59
10. Little People, Big World (TLC), 0.57
Total Viewers (in millions)
1. America’s Got Talent (NBC), 10.34
2. Zoo (CBS), 6.18
3. Rizzoli & Isles (TNT), 4.59
4. The Haves and the Have Nots (OWN), 3.20
5. The O’Reilly Factor (FNC), 3.16
6. The Kelly File (FNC), 2.99
7. Public Morals (TNT), 2.14
8. Little People, Big World (TLC), 2.09
9. Counting Cars (History), 1.89
9. Hannity (FNC), 1.89
Source: Nielsen (live plus same-day)
Each 18-49 ratings point represents about 1.27 million viewers
