Netflix’s ‘Series of Unfortunate Events’ Tops ‘Luke Cage’ in TV Ratings (Exclusive)
Symphony Advanced Media’s initial viewership numbers place Neil Patrick Harris show behind “Gilmore Girls” revival
Tony Maglio | January 18, 2017 @ 9:36 AM
Last Updated: January 19, 2017 @ 3:03 PM
Netflix
“Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events” topped fellow Netflix Original “Luke Cage” — and a lot more streaming shows — in its opening weekend TV ratings, according to Symphony Advanced Media.
The Neil Patrick Harris show currently sits behind “Fuller House” Season 1, “Orange Is the New Black” Season 4, and the recent “Gilmore Girls” revival in terms of three-day viewership. Of course, it almost surely ranks behind earlier seasons for hits like “OITNB,” but Symphony AM didn’t begin measuring streaming tune-in until about a year and change ago.
During its opening weekend (“Live” + 3 Days), “Lemony Snicket” was viewed by 3.755 million adults 18-49 over the average minute. Compare that to “Luke Cage,” which got 3.388 million. “Daredevil” Season 2 is next down the list, with 3.201 million viewers from the advertiser-coveted demo. Behind “Daredevil” sits “Fuller House” Season 2, “Stranger Things,” “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” Season 2 and “House of Cards” Season 4.
The series premiere of “Fuller House” hauled in 7.330 million viewers over its average minute. No. 2, “Orange Is the New Black” Season 4, landed 5.843 million. The bronze medalist from this sample, “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life,” nabbed 4.884 million.
Silicon Valley-based Symphony AM utilizes a panelist’s cell phone microphone and audio recognition technology to identify what a television viewer is watching. It’s important to note that these preliminary ratings are unstable and subject to adjustment, so “A Series of Unfortunate Events” could theoretically shift in either direction.
Netflix does not share its internal viewership numbers.
'Making a Murderer': What's Changed for Steven Avery, Brendan Dassey Since Series Debut 1 Year Ago (Photos)
"Making a Murderer" chronicled the murder of Teresa Halbach and the subsequent trials of suspects Brendan Dassey and Steven Avery.
Netflix
Steven Avery Since the documentary's debut, Avery hired Kathleen Zellner, a lawyer who specializes in wrongful convictions. She filed a motion in August to retest evidence in the case and has been keeping fans up to date with any progress pertaining to it.
Netflix
Avery's fame due to the documentary also attracted a "gold digger," according to Avery. In October, it was announced he was engaged to a woman named Lynn Hartman (note: he's still in prison) but later found out she was "in this relationship for money and publicity," his former fiancee Sandra Greenman wrote on Facebook.
Netflix
The Avery Family Carla Chase, Avery's niece and spokesperson for the Avery family, tells TheWrap: "The family never expected how the documentary would go world wide and how it has affected everyone. The support is great. I can only speak for myself on how it has changed my life, even tho it has changed all our lives with the outpouring of support."
She is one of the admins of the Steven Avery & Brendan Dassey Project, a family discussion Facebook page which has over 21,000 members.
Netflix
Brendan Dassey Since the documentary's debut, Dassey's life admittedly changed the most. His conviction was overturned in August (which the state appealed), and then news broke that Dassey would be released. However, the Wisconsin DOJ filed an emergency motion to keep Dassey in prison.
Netflix
Len Kachinsky Fans of the Netflix show “Making a Murderer” haven’t held their tongues in criticizing Brendan Dassey’s lawyer, Len Kachinsky, and his strategies during the juvenile’s initial defense, but the public defender still insists nothing he did had any effect on the outcome of Dassey’s case.
“Frankly, I’m not responsible for Dassey going to prison,” Kachinsky, who is no longer involved with the case, told TheWrap in January. “You can say I made a mistake, that I should’ve [attended] or I should have rescheduled the interview — that’s valid criticism.”
Kachinsky declined to comment for this story.
Netflix
Ken Kratz Following the debut of the series, Avery's prosecutor Ken Kratz was bashed on Yelp to warn potential new clients checking his law practice’s Yelp page against hiring him.
“Mr. Kratz is a seasoned sexual harasser, with deep knowledge of abuse victims which he took advantage of. He has a long experience in evidence fabrication, and has the required strategic thought skills to send innocent men to jail for forged crimes,” one man wrote in a Yelp review.
Netflix
Kratz also told Dr. Drew that he had suicidal thoughts after “this whole thing kind of blew up,” referring to the Avery Case and an Associated Press report exposing racy texts he sent to a 25-year-old woman while Kratz was prosecuting her ex-boyfriend.
Kratz also published a tell-all book chronicling the Avery case and its depiction in "Making a Murderer."
Kratz did not respond to TheWrap's request for comment for this story.
Netflix
Manitowoc Police Department In the documentary, the Manitowoc Police Department is over heavy scrutiny, with many alleging that its officers framed Avery for the murder.
Since the series debut, there were protests in front of the police department, and a bomb threat was called into the office in February. Authorities said that the caller claimed “there were bombs in the building” and that he was “getting justice” for Steven Avery. The area was deemed clear, but a second call was made 20 minutes later -- but no devices were found either.
A spokesperson for the Manitowoc Police Department has not yet responded to TheWrap's request for comment.
Manitowoc Police
Netflix The show was a success for Netflix -- In July, the streaming platform announced additional episodes which will chronicle Avery and Dassey's respective investigative and legal teams challenging their convictions.
Netflix has not yet responded to TheWrap's request for comment.
Netflix
1 of 10
See how the Netflix documentary impacted the lives of Avery, Dassey, their families and their legal teams
"Making a Murderer" chronicled the murder of Teresa Halbach and the subsequent trials of suspects Brendan Dassey and Steven Avery.