“V” For Visitor, May Be Mainstay After Big Premier
“V” was originally a mini-series that appeared on ABC back in the 1980′s about an alien encounter. Basically the same thing we have seen a thousand times already, but apparently can never get enough of in the sci-fi fantasy realm.
The show was quite popular then, but back then you actually put TV programs much higher on your to do list every night than today with so many other things to occupy our time. Like say the internet, video games, finding the best eye creams, or just plain going outside.
In initial overnight ratings, “V,” a remake of a 1980’s sci-fi series about an alien invasion, hit a 5 rating in the 18-to-49 age group that networks prize (because advertisers pay the most to reach it), the best number of any drama or comedy series introduced this fall.
The show also had about 14 million viewers, which was below the 18.7 million that the CBS drama “NCIS LA” attracted for its premiere. But that show, a spinoff, benefited from following its progenitor, “NCIS,” on Tuesday nights. The “V” performance was more impressive because as an 8 p.m. show it pulled in the audience all on its own.
The only other new series close to “V” in terms of an 18-49 rating was the new Fox animated comedy “The Cleveland Show,” which averaged a 4.9 in that group for its premiere. But again, that series had the advantage of being placed between Fox’s two animated hits, “The Simpsons” and “Family Guy.”
One reason “V” exceeded expectations was that the drama had acquired a reputation as a troubled show. In the past week the studio that owns the show, Warner Brothers, had announced that it was bringing in a new executive producer, Scott Rosenbaum (”Chuck”), to run “V.”
