"Dexter" Ratings: Showtime Record For Largest Season Premiere

Hollywood Reporter:

The third season premiere of Showtime's "Dexter" broke a record for the network Sunday night, jumping 21% from last year.

"Dexter" averaged 1.2 million viewers, the highest-rated premiere of a Showtime drama since at least 2004 (when Nielsen changed the way the network's ratings are tabulated). The second season premiere of "Dexter" was the previous record holder.

The second season debut of "Californication" didn't fare so well, however. The drama's 522,000 take was down 5%.

Read the whole story: Hollywood Reporter

Comments

[fuzzywuzzy6]

I don't have premium cable, but watched most of the episodes on CBS last year. Bought the first novel in the series and look forward to reading the second one.

Dexter is a wonderful exploration of what it means to be human; by exploring Dexter's deficits, which he is only too aware of, and his musings on whether he would like to have a more normal life, we are forced to look at our own failings in how we engage with and treat others. The subplots are also great.

For those who enjoy Dexter for the same reason I do, you might try reading Carol O'Connell's Mallory series. Mallory is a New York police detective with an expertise in computers. She was a runaway as a young child who had many harrowing experiences and was adopted by a New York homicide detective and his wife. She is a sociopath, possibly a psychopath, but she attempts to moderate her behavior based on what she learned from her adoptive family and his friends, who continue to love her to this day. This is a series that has to be read in order, as much of the mystery centers on Mallory's troubled childhood. Although she is not the narrator and we are given no real clues as to her interior state, the other characters, who have known her since she was adopted, give us a lot of insight. O'Connell was an artist prior to writing mystery stories.

[brendanm]

The claim by McCain that "Dexter" is one of his favorite shows still bothers me, but it doesn't affect my feelings about the show, at least. I do worry that the show glorifies murder too much, but it is still one of the best shows on television.

[Ramirez]

The show doesn't "glorify murd er". It glorifies justice at any cost, regardless of the law.

[AnotherMike]

I guess that's right up Bush/McCain's alley... The only question would be that of thier idea of justice.

[firelord5000]

Love the show, and the books :)

[andvoodoo2]

"Dexter" is one of our favorite shows. Michael C. Hall was great on "Six Feet Under" and is by far the best character on "Dexter". Some of the other characters don't do that much for me.

BTW, Michael C. Hall is dating and, in fact, living with the actress who plays Debra (his sister) on the show. How funny is that?

[brendanm]

The character of Dexter being the best character on the show "Dexter" is not that remarkable. Michael C. Hall does a fantastic job, of course, but I had to make that point.

And if he is dating the actress who plays his sister, that helps with their familial chemistry on the show. That's commitment to your work.

[andvoodoo2]

Actually, word has it that the head honchos at Showtime we not the least bit happy about their living together. I think they think it will give fans a weird feeling about them. I say, who cares?

What I meant about the other characters is that I don't think all of them are all that talented. I'm not crazy about the Debra actress or the girlfriend. And I couldn't stand the English actress from last season.

[ewj1]

HBO made a lots of mistakes ,canceling Deadwood and passing on Saving Grace, are two. Now Showtime is far better with Weeds, Dexter, & L Word.

[andvoodoo2]

I keep hoping HBO will pick up "The Riches". FX says they can't afford the show and are looking for someone to take it off their hands.

[mango55]

Didn't HBO also pass on Mad Men? If anyone should pick up The Riches, please let it be
Showtime... or AMC, for that matter. They did very well with Mad Men and Breaking Bad.

LOVE Dexter! I was hooked from Season One's pilot... but I knew I would be. I was a HUGE
Six Feet Under fan.

[ColoradoDan]

Showtime goofed hugely by cancelling Huff ... that was about as good as a cast gets with amazing stories. Showtime won't even release Season Two on dvd! We still talk about Huff and cast. S'Time didn't even promote it back then ... netflixed it once and could not believe it wasn't a Number One show, then bought the first season. Superb.

HBO screwed up by killing off Carnivale and Deadwood. And Sopranos jumped the shark a couple seasons earlier big time. Best episode was 'Pine Barrens'.

Sopranos had the worst ending of any series while Six Feet Under's ending was among the best 6 minutes ever commited to film for either TV or the Movie Theater.

Can only hope that Dexter stays great. So far (one show) pretty good!

[andvoodoo2]

We loved "Huff" and I agree, Sho was nuts to cancel it. "Carnivale" was one of our all-time favorites. I agree, "Pine Barrens" was great. Finally, "Six Feet Under"s last show was incredible. We still have it on Tivo and when we evacuated, we took Tivo with us!
My now-17 year-old is the other half of "we". You sound like you enjoy all the same shows we do!

[Jeffer]

Brilliant writing and acting. I caught on to it last year and have am hooked.

[truth2008]

Love Dexter, Great show!

[UKThom]

The star of the show was amazing on 6 Feet Under, so this article doesn't surprise me.

[cinemaven]

Well worth staying home for on a Sunday night!! I let everyone know to put me on their "do not call during Dexter" lists
I'm so glad they kept the same opening... that alone is reason to watch.
Anyone who hasn't seen it should jump in... amazing cast, smart plot and one of the best unfolding storylines I've seen in recent memory. It's great television.

[kellygrrrl]

Best show on TV!!!!!!!

[strifeknot]

Congratulations on having the most philistines in the world, America. We're number 1!

[jlab]

The title sequence is close to genius.

[andvoodoo2]

It won an Emmy.

[heal57]

We love 'Dexter'. I was hesitant to watch this show cause I'm sensitive in many ways, but zowie, what a likeable guy and a great storyline. This is my favorite show, and 'The Closer' is second.

[marymansour]

Dexter is one sharply written, edgy and well acted show. Sort of a Sex & the City for serial killer fans. I will be a regular watcher.

[johnnygoodwud]

i watch last yrs. episodes on disc, and can only watch one a night. way to intense for this guy. great stuff.