With the ratings for Sunday’s premiere of the Martin Scorsese Terrance Winter show Boardwalk Empire showing it to be a big hit, HBO has already reacted to the news and is giving the show another season after airing only that first episode. HBO made the decision “following resounding critical approval and high viewer numbers.”
The series starring Steve Buscemi and Michael Pitt had 4.8 million viewers to become the cable network’s biggest debut since Deadwood in 2004. According to reports,the renewal decision was a combination of factors including the terrific premiere ratings, positive reviews and also the substantial upfront cost of making the series, which the network would like to see spread across as many episodes as possible.
As an immediete fan of the show after watching the first episode and knowing it only gets better from here, I’m pretty happy about the news. Besides, who wouldn’t want more Scorsese? I know I do.
Want more details on HBO’s decision? Check out the full press release after the jump. Boardwalk Empire airs Sunday nights at 9/8C on HBO.
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 21, 2010 – Following resounding critical approval and high viewer numbers for the series’ Sept. 19 debut, HBO has renewed BOARDWALK EMPIRE for a second season, it was announced today by Michael Lombardo, president, HBO Programming.
“All the ingredients aligned for this one, from Mark Wahlberg and Steve Levinson’s initial pitch, to Martin Scorsese’s enormous contributions as director and executive producer, to the genius of Terry Winter and the expertise of Tim Van Patten, to a stellar cast led by Steve Buscemi,” said Lombardo. “The response from the media and our viewers has been nothing short of amazing.”
From Terence Winter, and Martin Scorsese, BOARDWALK EMPIRE is set in Atlantic City at the dawn of Prohibition, when the sale of alcohol became illegal throughout the United States.
The Sept. 19 premiere of BOARDWALK EMPIRE averaged 4.8 million viewers during the 9:00 p.m. airing to score HBO’s largest premiere of any program in over six years (since March 21, 2004 – “Deadwood” with “The Sopranos” as lead-in). With additional plays at 10:15 p.m. and 11:30 p.m., BOARDWALK EMPIRE was watched by a combined 7.1 million viewers for the night.
Season one credits: Created by Terence Winter, BOARDWALK EMPIRE is executive produced by Terence Winter, Martin Scorsese, Tim Van Patten, Stephen Levinson and Mark Wahlberg; co-executive producers, Gene Kelly and Lawrence Konner; producers (series), Rudd Simmons and Rick Yorn; producer (pilot), David Coatsworth; supervising producers, Howard Korder and Margaret Nagle.
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WE LOVED IT! WHERE DO I START? THE STORY HAS BEEN TOLD SO MANY TIMES BEFORE ,BUT NOT LIKE THIS. THE CAST SO BELIEVEABLE, STEVE BUSCEMI WONDERFUL IN THIS PART! THIS IS THE KIND OF TELEVISION I WANT TO VIEW.
THUMBS UP HBO ONCE AGAIN. BY THE WAY MY HUSBAND AND I ARE 60 & 63 YEARS OLD
I like the new series but do think it can be toned down a little bit. It is over the top and they are loosing alot of the elderly watchers.