While the major networks brought nearly all of their 2016-2017 shows to an end during May, the cable networks still had plenty of programming options for TV fans to enjoy.
Let’s take a look at how those cable dramas performed during the month of May:
CABLE DRAMAS
MONDAYS:
Better Call Saul – The AMC drama aired four new episodes from its third season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 1 – 1.6 million
May 8 – 1.8 million
May 15 – 1.7 million
May 22 – 1.7 million
May 29 – No new episode aired
This averages out to 1.7 million viewers for May. A new episode of Better Call Saul is set to air on AMC on Monday, June 5 at 10 PM.
TUESDAYS:
The Americans – The FX Russian spy drama aired the final five episodes of its fifth season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 2 – 677,000 viewers
May 9 – 613,000 viewers
May 16 – 620,000 viewers
May 23 – 661,000 viewers
May 30 – 769,000 viewers (Season Finale)
This averages out to 668,000 viewers for May. The Americans will return for a sixth season on FX.
If Loving You Is Wrong – The OWN soap opera aired the final five episodes of its third season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 2 – 1.9 million
May 9 – 1.8 million
May 16 – 1.8 million
May 23 – 1.8 million
May 30 – 1.9 million (90-Minute Finale)
This averages out to 1.8 million viewers for May. If Loving You Is Wrong will return with new episodes on OWN, but an official return date has yet to be announced.
Rebel – The BET drama aired the final four episodes of its debut season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 2 – 480,000 viewers
May 9 – 455,000 viewers
May 16 – 461,000 viewers
May 23 – 398,000 viewers (Finale)
This averages out to 449,000 viewers for May. Rebel has yet to be renewed for a second season by BET.
Pretty Little Liars – Four more new episodes of the 7th and final season of the Freeform soap opera aired during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 2 – 856,000 viewers
May 9 – 911,000 viewers
May 16 – No episode aired
May 23 – 851,000 viewers
May 30 – 900,000 viewers
This averages out to 880,000 viewers for May. A new episode of Pretty Little Liars is set to air on Freeform on Tuesday, June 6 at 8 PM.
Famous in Love – The new Freeform drama aired five new episodes from its debut season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 2 – 299,000 viewers
May 9 – 282,000 viewers
May 16 – 212,000 viewers
May 23 – 258,000 viewers
May 30 – 288,000 viewers
This averages out to 268,000 viewers for May. A new episode of Famous in Love is set to air on Freeform on Tuesday, June 6 at 9 PM.
Genius – The National Geographic series about Albert Einstein aired five new episodes during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 2 – 1 million
May 9 – 1 million
May 16 – 928,000 viewers
May 23 – 940,000 viewers
May 30 – 1 million
This averages out to 974,000 viewers for May. The final episode of Genius is set to air on the National Geographic Channel on Tuesday, June 6 at 9 PM.
Animal Kingdom – The crime family TNT drama returned for its second season on May 30, earning 1.2 million viewers. A new episode of Animal Kingdom will air on TNT on Tuesday, June 6 at 9 PM.
WEDNESDAYS:
Underground – The WGN America period piece drama aired the final two episodes of its second season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 3 – 443,000 viewers
May 10 – 479,000 viewers (Series Finale)
That averages out to 461,000 viewers for May. Sadly, Underground has not been renewed for a third season by WGN America.
Fargo – The FX anthology series aired five new episodes from its third season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 3 – 1.2 million
May 10 – 1 million
May 17 – 977,000 viewers
May 24 – 1 million
May 31 – 1 million
This averages out to 1 million viewers for May. A new episode of Fargo is set to air on FX on Wednesday, June 7 at 10 PM.
Gomorrah – The Italian series picked up by SundanceTV aired five more new episodes of its second season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 3 – 59,000 viewers
May 10 – 56,000 viewers
May 17 – 46,000 viewers
May 24 – 60,000 viewers
May 31 – 96,000 viewers
This averages out to 63,000 viewers for May. A new episode of Gomorrah is set to air on SundanceTV on Wednesday, June 7 at 10 PM.
Kingdom – The DirecTV drama returned for its third and final season on May 31, but ratings for that episode could not be tracked down. A new episode of Kingdom will air on DirecTV on Wednesday, June 7 at 8 PM.
Rogue – The DirecTV police drama aired the final four episodes of its fourth and final season during the month; however ratings could not be tracked down for those episodes.
THURSDAYS:
NOTE: There weren’t any cable network dramas airing on Thursday nights in May.
FRIDAYS:
12 Monkeys – The first four episodes of the Syfy time-travel series aired on May 19, as part of the weekend-long airing of the show’s entire third season. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 19 Episode 1 – 585,000 viewers (Season Premiere)
May 19 Episode 2 – 399,000 viewers
May 19 Episode 3 – 374,000 viewers
May 19 Episode 4 – 324,000 viewers
NOTE: Check Saturday and Sunday for further details on 12 Monkeys.
SATURDAYS:
The Son – The period piece drama starring Pierce Brosnan aired four new episodes of its debut season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 6 – 1.3 million
May 13 – 1.2 million
May 20 – 1.3 million
May 27 – No new episode aired
This averages out to 1.3 million viewers for May. The penultimate episode of The Son aired on June 3 with the season finale set to air on AMC on Saturday, June 10 at 10 PM.
Doctor Who – The long-running sci-fi series aired four new episodes of its 10th season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 6 – 625,000 viewers
May 13 – 543,000 viewers
May 20 – 565,000 viewers
May 27 – 499,000 viewers
This averages out to 558,000 viewers for May. A new episode of Doctor Who aired on June 3 with the next new episode set to air on BBC America on Saturday, June 10 at 9 PM.
Class – The Doctor Who spin-off aired four new episodes of its debut season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 6 – 257,000 viewers
May 13 – 205,000 viewers
May 20 – 202,000 viewers
May 27 – 206,000 viewers
This averages out to 218,000 viewers for May. The season finale of Class aired on BBC America on Saturday, June 3 at 10 PM, ratings for that episode will be provided in next month’s report.
12 Monkeys – The next three episodes of the Syfy time-travel show’s third season aired on May 20, as part of the weekend-long airing of the show’s entire third season. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 20 Episode 5 – 397,000 viewers
May 20 Episode 6 – 315,000 viewers
May 20 Episode 7 – 313,000 viewers
NOTE: Check Sunday for the remainder of the 12 Monkeys episodes.
SUNDAYS:
Into the Badlands – The AMC martial arts drama aired the final three episodes of its second season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 7 – 1.3 million
May 14 – 1.6 million
May 1.4 million (Season Finale)
This averages out to 1.4 million viewers for May. Into the Badlands will return for a third season on AMC, but an official airdate has yet to be announced.
Guerrilla – The 6-part limited series set in the 1970s aired the final three episodes of its debut season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 7 – 85,000 viewers
May 14 – 61,000 viewers (Finale – Hour 1)
May 14 – 43,000 viewers (Finale – Hour 2)
This averages out to 63,000 viewers for May. Guerrilla has yet to be renewed for a second season by Showtime.
The White Princess – The period piece drama aired four new episodes of its debut season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 7 – 845,000 viewers
May 14 – 951,000 viewers
May 21 – 792,000 viewers
May 28 – 722,000 viewers
This averages out to 828,000 viewers for May. The season finale of The White Princess aired on Starz on Sunday, June 4 at 8 PM. The ratings for that episode will be provided in next month’s report.
Mary Kills People – The Canadian series aired the final four episodes of its debut season on Lifetime during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 7 – 641,000 viewers
May 14 – 513,000 viewers
May 21 – 597,000 viewers (Finale – Hour 1)
May 21 – 502,000 viewers (Finale – Hour 2)
This averages out to 563,000 viewers for May. Mary Kills People has yet to be renewed for a second season.
The Leftovers – The HBO series aired four new episodes of its third and final season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 7 – 812,000 viewers
May 14 – 919,000 viewers
May 21 – 770,000 viewers
May 28 – 804,000 viewers
This averages out to 826,000 viewers for May. The two-hour series finale of The Leftovers aired on HBO on Sunday, June 4 at 9 PM. The ratings for that episode will be provided in next month’s report.
Good Witch – The Hallmark Channel aired four more new episodes of its third season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 7 – 2.1 million
May 14 – 1.9 million
May 21 – 1.8 million
May 28 – 2 million
This averages out to 2 million viewers for May. A new episode of Good Witch aired on June 4 with the next new episode set to air on Hallmark Channel on Sunday, June 11 at 9 PM.
American Gods – The Starz fantasy series aired four new episode from its debut season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 7 – 710,000 viewers
May 14 – 716,000 viewers
May 21 – 631,000 viewers
May 28 – 666,000 viewers
This averages out to 681,000 viewers for May. A new episode of American Gods aired on June 4 with the next new episode set to air on Starz on Sunday, June 11 at 9 PM.
Twin Peaks: The Return – The creepy world of Twin Peaks returned 25 years later on Showtime starting on May 21, airing two episodes during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 21 – 506,000 viewers (Series Return)
May 28 – 195,000 viewers
This averages out to 351,000 viewers for May. A new episode of Twin Peaks: The Return aired on June 4 with the next new episode set to air on Showtime on Sunday, June 11 at 9 PM.
12 Monkeys – The final three episodes of the Syfy time-travel show’s third season aired on May 20, as part of the weekend-long airing of the show’s entire third season. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 21 Episode 8 – 278,000 viewers
May 21 Episode 9 – 232,000 viewers
May 21 Episode 10 – 246,000 viewers (Season Finale)
This averages out to 346,000 viewers for the third season. 12 Monkeys will return to Syfy for a fourth season sometime in 2018.
Billions – The Showtime drama aired its season finale on May 7, earning 1 million viewers. Billions will return for a third season.
The Arrangement – The Hollywood-themed drama from E! aired its season finale on May 7, earning 560,000 viewers. The Arrangement has been renewed for a second season.
Heartland – The popular Canadian series aired four more new episodes of 10th season on the UP Channel during the month; but ratings for those episodes could not be tracked down. A new episode of Heartland was expected to air on June 4 with the next new episode supposedly set to air on the UP Channel on Sunday, June 11 at 7 PM.
MADE-FOR-TV MOVIES AND MINI-SERIES
There were 15 made-for-TV movies and/or mini-series to air in May. Here is how most of those movies performed in the ratings:
Dirty Dancing (ABC) – 6.6 million [average over 3 hours]
All For Love (Hallmark Channel) – 2 million
Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland (Lifetime) – 2 million
The Art of Us (Hallmark Channel) – 1.9 million
The Wizard of Lies (HBO) – 1.5 million
A Bundle of Trouble: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.4 million
Cradle Swapping (Lifetime) – 1.2 million
Sinister Minister (Lifetime) – 1.1 million
Deadly Sorority (Lifetime) – 696,000 viewers
Secrets of My Stepdaughter (Lifetime) – 617,000 viewers
Daughter for Sale (Lifetime) – 608,000 viewers
No ratings could be tracked down for the following mini-series that aired during May:
Call the Midwife (PBS)
Dark Angel (PBS)
Home Fires (PBS)
King Charles (PBS)
Ratings results for the cable dramas, mini-series and made-for-TV movies that have and will air in June that can be tracked down will be provided as soon as possible in July.
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Rueben's Ramblings 
Underground: Gone too Soon
Posted in Commentary, News, Television on June 2, 2017| Leave a Comment »
On Tuesday, WGN America announced that sophomore show, Underground, would not return for a third season. Already the cast and creative team are trying to get the show on another network (or streaming service), but generally fans are sad and frustrated that the show was cancelled.
However, the show is not the only WGN America show to be cancelled this week – Outsiders was also cancelled by the new CEO in an effort to rebrand the station. Just a few years ago, the idea of original programs (Salem, Manhattan, Underground and Outsiders) was seen as a way to branch the network away from its roots as a local Tribune station.
Winds change – as does management – but the end of all of these show (but Underground most of all) changes what types of shows are available on TV. What stood out for all of these WGN America shows was a strong sense of different narratives – all of the shows were ground in some real history but took different spins and turns on the same facts that most people know.
Underground was difficult to watch – rightly so – but it raised awareness of issues of race and class that are still relevant to all of us today. The show’s themes hit the right moment in the zeitgeist but each of the shows that are no longer on the air were important to thinking about larger issues.
Regardless of why Underground has left the air (for now), the show made many fans realize more of the cruelties of slavery while also celebrating triumphs in difficult times.
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