Drama Viewership Ratings: Aug. 28-Sept. 3, 2017

We had a few new premieres this week, starting with Hospital Ship, which took over the slot previously occupied by Man Who Dies to Live. And it’s so far pulling in about the same numbers, although they fluctuate from half-episode to half-episode. The hype did seem to wear off a bit on its second day, since it dropped from a high of 12.4% to 10.7%, but those numbers aren’t anything to sniff at. The real test will be if it can sustain viewers going into next week, but for a blockbuster drama, it’s not necessarily pulling in blockbuster numbers right out of the starting gate.

While Falsify has been doing pretty well for itself, maybe the recent union worker strike has helped to make the show even more relevant than before, what with the strike being all about journalistic integrity and freedom. That hasn’t seemed to impact its numbers, since it’s pulling in about the same 11.6% each week, but who knows how it’ll be when the strike goes into full effect.

I had a feeling that Manhole’s numbers would drop even lower because people aren’t going to suddenly start tuning in at this point, but color me surprised that it dropped into territory I haven’t seen for a Big 3 broadcaster in what feels like forever: the dreaded 1%. Its even-numbered episode managed an absolutely abysmal 1.4%, and were we in any other climate, the show would probably be on the chopping block. But it’s probably just cheaper at this point to run the rest of the show than it is to try and scramble to find programming or rush Mad Dog, the show slated to air after Manhole ends.

And while Age of Youth 2 will probably be a cult hit like its predecessor and numbers don’t really matter, we had two big weekend premieres: My Golden Life, which took over the winning slot left behind by Father Is Strange and earned winning starting numbers at 19.7%, and Man Who Sets the Table, which took over once You’re Too Much ended and earned a much less stellar 8.6%. It’s only with weekend dramas that I think people are more attached to the slot than they are the drama airing in it, or maybe it’s just faith that the same network will continue to put out likable content in a likable slot.

 
Drama viewership ratings for the week of Aug. 28-Sept. 3, 2017