As a long-time admirer of the small screen, I must say that the recent return of Kathy Bates to our television sets as Madeline Matlock has been nothing short of a masterclass in acting. The debut episode of the rebooted legal drama was nothing less than a triumphant homecoming, drawing in an impressive audience that dwarfed even the most highly-anticipated streaming releases like “The Penguin”.
Made an impressive first appearance on HBO and Max last week, garnering both high viewership and positive reviews. However, one industry veteran has shown that broadcast television is far from dead by putting things into perspective. Returning to our screens this Sunday in her potential final role as a revamped character in the classic courtroom drama, the first episode was a massive success for CBS, outperforming the opening ratings of The Penguin’s debut.
In a continuation of Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” universe, “The Penguin” is now gracing our small screens. Given that the original film raked in nearly $800 million upon its 2022 release, it was anticipated that the spin-off series would be a success, and indeed it was. In its first four days on two platforms, it attracted a viewership of $3.2 million. When taking into account all platforms, this number increases to a staggering $5.3 million, making it the most successful new series launch since “The Last of Us.
As a follower, I’d like to share an interesting observation based on The Penguin’s data: Sometimes, streaming platforms and franchise releases can’t match up to a beloved actor and a compelling legal drama. Bates, with her portrayal of Madeline Matlock, made quite the impact on Sunday. In fact, her debut delivered one of the largest Live + Same Day linear viewerships in several years. According to Nielsen’s latest figures (as reported by Deadline), Matlock was watched by a staggering 7.73 million viewers on its first day alone. This not only gave CBS its highest audience in over 5 years, but it also surpassed shows that typically air after the Super Bowl.
To put it simply, Matlock attracted over twice as many viewers as The Penguin when focusing solely on CBS and HBO Max audiences. When you factor in all other platforms where The Penguin was streamed and its four-day broadcast window, the viewership for Matlock remains even more remarkable.
Matlock Has Bested The Penguin in Its Reviews Too
Speaking as a movie enthusiast, it’s clear that Matlock has been ruling the DC realm in terms of viewership. But what sets it apart is its impressive critical acclaim. It’s currently holding onto a flawless 100% Tomatometer score from critics, and to top it off, it boasts an impressive average Popcornmeter rating of 89%. In contrast, The Penguin shares the same audience score, but its critical appraisal took a slight dip to 94%. Despite being a new series, Matlock’s success shows that you don’t always need a big Hollywood franchise to outshine others.
On Sunday, The Penguin will carry on with its 10-episode series, revealing if the initial episode was engaging enough to draw viewers back for more and if it can boost its audience as the narrative of Oz Cobb unfolds. Meanwhile, fans of Matlock must wait a bit longer for the next episode; the premiere served as a preview of the series, with regular weekly episodes not set to air until October 17.
The Penguin
continues on September 29 on HBO and Max.
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2024-09-25 14:01