‘True Blood,’ ‘Jackie,’ ‘Kendra’ Set Ratings Records

The news just keeps getting better for HBO.

 

Sunday’s episode of the pay cable network’s "True Blood" brought in 4.3 million viewers, according to Nielsen. That’s a record tune-in for the two-year-old show, and a stunning stat given just how few home HBO reaches vs. other broadcast and cable networks.

Indeed, "True Blood’s" viewer tally was higher than the premieres of some much- hyped network shows, including Fox’s "More to Love" (4.0 million viewers) and ABC’s "Defying Gravity" (3.6 million).

The news was also good for the other shows in HBO’s Sunday lineup. Both "Hung" (3.4 million) and "Entourage" (3.2 million) had their second-best ratings of the season.

Sunday’s numbers highlight the stunning summer pay cable networks have been having.

 

UPDATE: More big cable numbers are in.

 

Over at Showtime, Monday comedies "Weeds" and "Nurse Jackie" both turned in stellar performances once again.

 

"Jackie," nearing the end of its first season, scored its best ever ratings this week, averaging 1.36 million viewers. Not to be outdone, "Weeds" brought in its biggest ratings of the season with 1.61 million viewers.

 

Meanwhile, over at E!, the first season finale of "Kendra" notched an eye-popping 2.1 million viewers. That’s the best first season finale ratings for an E! show since Anna Nicole Smith’s series back in 2002.

 

What’s more, season one of "Kendra" managed to improve upon the ratings of "The Girls Next Door," the show from which it was spun off. "Kendra" attracted 26 percent more adults 18-49 viewers than "Girls," according to E!

 

 

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