“Atlanta,” the acclaimed new comedy series created by and starring Donald Glover, scored the best audience of any basic cable primetime scripted comedy in over three years in the key 18-49 demographic. On a Live+3 basis, the total audience delivery for the series premiere telecast and encore airings was 3 million Total Viewers and 1.9 million Adults 18-49.
The premiere telecast (Tuesday, September 6, 2016; 10PM-10:35PM) was basic cable’s most-watched scripted primetime comedy debut in Adults 18-49 (1.2 million) since the April 2013 series premiere of “Inside Amy Schumer” (Comedy Central). In Total Viewers, “Atlanta” was basic cable’s second most-watched scripted primetime comedy series premiere in the last two years (1.8 million), behind only “Wrecked” (TBS) earlier this year. The premiere telecast was followed immediately by the second episode, which held 90% of Total Viewers (1.6 million) and 92% of Adults 18-49 (1.1 million).
Among FX Networks series, “Atlanta” is FX’s most-watched original comedy series premiere in both Adults 18-49 and Total Viewers since “Wilfred’s” premiere in June 2011. The Live+3 lift of the series premiere of “Atlanta” in Adults 18-49 (72%) and Total Viewers (68%) was one of the highest among FX comedy series premieres, behind Baskets in Adults 18-49 (80%) and Total Viewers (69%). In January, the series premiere of the FX comedy series “Baskets” was the most-watched basic cable primetime comedy series premiere since 2014 in both Adults 18-49 and Total Viewers on a Live+3 basis.
“Atlanta,” currently the most critically acclaimed comedy series of the year with a Metacritic score of 90, returns with a new episode tonight, Tuesday, September 13 at 10 PM on FX: Episode 3 – “Go For Broke,” written by Stephen Glover; directed by Hiro Murai.
In “Atlanta,” two cousins work through the Atlanta music scene in order to better their lives and the lives of their families. “Earn Marks” (Donald Glover) is a young manager trying to get his cousin’s career off the ground. “Alfred Miles” (Brian Tyree Henry) is a new hot rapper trying to understand the line between real life and street life. “Darius” (Lakeith Lee Stanfield) is Alfred’s right-hand man and visionary. “Van” (Zazie Beetz) is Earn’s best friend and the mother of Earn’s daughter.
Glover serves as Executive Producer, along with Paul Simms and Dianne McGunigle of MGMT Entertainment. Atlanta is produced by FX Productions.
If you missed last week’s first episode (or just don’t have cable TV), FX released it online, so you can watch it for free below: