May brought a number of cable dramas to a close along with several debuts and a couple dramas returning as well as a little over a dozen made-for-TV movies and mini-series.
First let’s take a look at the dramas:
CABLE DRAMAS
MONDAYS:
Gentleman Jack – The new period piece HBO drama aired four new episodes of its debut season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 6 – 338,000 viewers
May 13 – 427,000 viewers
May 20 – 362,000 viewers
May 27 – 499,000 viewers
This averages out to 407,000 viewers for May. A new episode aired on June 3 with the season finale of Gentleman Jack set to air on HBO on Monday, June 10 at 10 PM.
TUESDAYS:
The Bold Type – The Freeform drama aired four new episodes from its third season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 7 – 171,000 viewers
May 14 – 244,000 viewers
May 21 – 255,000 viewers
May 28 – 301,000 viewers
This averages out to 243,000 viewers for May. A new episode aired on June 4 with the season finale of The Bold Type set to air on Freeform on Tuesday, June 11 at 8 PM.
Fosse/Verdon – The 8-episode FX limited series aired the final four episodes of its run during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 7 – 312,000 viewers
May 14 – 364,000 viewers
May 21 – 367,000 viewers
May 28 – 495,000 viewers (Finale)
This averages out to 385,000 viewers for May.
The Haves and the Have Nots – The long-running OWN soap opera returned for the start of its sixth season on May 7, airing four episodes during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 7 – 1.5 million viewers (Season Premiere)
May 14 – 1.4 million viewers
May 21 – 1.4 million viewers
May 28 – 1.6 million viewers
This averages out to 1.5 million viewers for May. A new episode aired on June 4 with the next new episode of The Haves and the Have Nots set to air on OWN on Tuesday, June 11 at 9 PM.
WEDNESDAYS:
See April’s report for the airings of the Wednesday cable dramas during May.
THURSDAYS:
Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger – The Freeform drama aired the final five episodes from its second season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 2 – 311,000 viewers
May 9 – 306,000 viewers
May 16 – 235,000 viewers
May 23 – 324,000 viewers
May 30 – 346,000 viewers (Finale)
This average out to 304,000 for May. Freeform has yet to announce if Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger has been renewed for a third season.
The Name of the Rose – The period piece drama debuted on Sundance TV on May 23, airing two episodes during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 23 – 114,000 viewers (DEBUT)
May 30 – 95,000 viewers
This averages out to 105,000 viewers for May. A new episode aired on June 6 with the final episode of The Name of the Rose set to air on Sundance TV on Thursday, June 13 at 10 PM.
FRIDAYS:
No cable dramas aired on Friday nights during the month.
SATURDAYS:
The Son – The second season of the AMC period piece drama aired four new episodes during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 4 – 612,000 viewers
May 11 – 654,000 viewers
May 18 – 527,000 viewers
May 25 – 560,000 viewers
This averages out to 588,000 viewers for May. A new episode aired on June 1 with the next new episode of The Son set to air on AMC on Saturday, June 8 at 9 PM.
SUNDAYS:
Billions – The Showtime drama aired three new episodes from its fourth season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 5 – 761,000 viewers
May 12 – 678,000 viewers
May 19 – No Episode Aired
May 26 – 729,000 viewers
This averages out to 723,000 viewers for May. A new episode aired on June 2 with the season finale of Billions set to air on Showtime on Sunday, June 9 at 9 PM.
The Chi – The Showtime drama aired three new episodes from its second season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 5 – 439,000 viewers
May 12 – 397,000 viewers
May 19 – No Episode Aired
May 26 – 350,000 viewers
This averages out to 395,000 viewers for May. A new episode aired on June 2 with the next new episode of The Chi set to air on Showtime on Sunday, June 9 at 10 PM.
Killing Eve – The international hit aired the final four episodes from its second season on both AMC and BBC America during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
AMC Airings:
May 5 – 570,000 viewers
May 12 – 615,000 viewers
May 19 – 663,000 viewers
May 26 – 537,000 viewers (Season Finale)
BBC America Airings:
May 5 – 454,000 viewers
May 12 – 402,000 viewers
May 19 – 419,000 viewers
May 26 – 367,000 viewers (Season Finale)
This averages out to 596,000 for AMC and 411,000 for BBC America for May. Killing Eve will be back for a third season sometime in 2020.
A Discovery of Witches – The Sundance Now drama also aired the final four episodes of its debuts season on AMC and BBC America during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
AMC Airings:
May 5 – 530,000 viewers
May 12 – 505,000 viewers
May 19 – 555,000 viewers
May 26 – 482,000 viewers (Season Finale)
BBC America Airings:
May 5 – 241,000 viewers
May 12 – 160,000 viewers
May 19 – 162,000 viewers
May 26 – 211,000 viewers (Season Finale)
This averages out to 518,000 viewers for AMC and 194,000 for BBC America for May. A Discovery of Witches will be back for a second season at some point either later this year or in 2020.
When Calls the Heart – The popular Hallmark Channel family series returned after its unexpected break due to the College Cheating Scandal on May 5 and May 6 for a two-night event, while also airing three new episodes during May and its season finale on June 2. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 5 – 2.3 million viewers (Return – Two-Night Event)
May 6 – 1.6 million viewers (Return – Two-Night Event)
May 12 – 2 million viewers
May 19 – 2 million viewers
May 26 – 2.3 million viewers
June 2 – 2.4 million viewers
This averages out to 2.1 million viewers for that time period. When Calls the Heart will be back sometime in 2020 for its 7th season on the Hallmark Channel.
The Spanish Princess – The period piece drama debuted on Starz on June 5, airing four episodes during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 5 – 393,000 viewers (DEBUT)
May 12 – 398,000 viewers
May 19 – 456,000 viewers
May 26 – 500,000 viewers
This averages out to 437,000 viewers for May. A new episode aired on June 2 with the next new episode of The Spanish Princess set to air on Starz on Sunday, June 9 at 8 PM.
Deep State – The EPIX spy drama aired four new episodes of its third season during the month, but no ratings could be tracked down. A new episode aired on June 2 with the next new episode of Deep State set to air on EPIX on Sunday, June 9 at 9 PM.
Call the Midwife, Les Miserables and Unforgotten – All of these shows aired during May on PBS, with all three ending during the month, but no ratings could be tracked down for any of them.
MADE-FOR-TV MOVIES AND MINI-SERIES
There were 11 made-for-TV movies and 2 mini-series that aired during May. Here are the ratings for those movies that could be tracked down:
From Friend to Fiancé (Hallmark Channel) – 2.3 million viewers
Paris, Wine & Romance (Hallmark Channel) – 2.3 million viewers
A Feeling of Home (Hallmark Channel) – 2.1 million viewers
Sailing Into Love (Hallmark Channel) – 2.1 million viewers
Love in the Sun (Hallmark Channel) – 1.8 million viewers
Hailey Dean Mysteries: Death on Duty (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.1 million viewers
Hailey Dean Mysteries: A Prescription for Murder (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.1 million viewers
Hailey Dean Mysteries: Killer Sentence (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1 million viewers
Deadwood: The Movie (HBO) – 931,000 viewers
Harry & Meghan: Becoming Royal (Lifetime) – 819,000 viewers
The One I Wrote For You (UP TV) – No ratings could be tracked down
Chernobyl – The HBO mini-series debuted on May 6, airing four of its five-parts during May and the season finale on June 3. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 6 – 756,000 viewers (DEBUT)
May 13 – 1 million viewers
May 20 – 1.1 million viewers
May 27 – 1.2 million viewers
June 3 – 1.1 million viewers (Finale)
This averages out to 1 million viewers.
The Hot Zone – The National Geographic 3-part mini-series aired 2-hours each night on its consecutive airings at the end of May. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 27 (Hour 1) – 1.4 million viewers
May 27 (Hour 2) – 1.3 million viewers
May 28 (Hour 1) – 1.1 million viewers
May 28 (Hour 2) – 1 million viewers
May 29 (Hour 1) – 1 million viewers
May 29 (Hour 2) – 943,000 viewers
This averages out to 1.1 million viewers.
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.
