In this splintered TV universe, with viewership scattered across broadcast, cable, the Internet and streaming services (Netflix, Crackle, etc.), any additional eyeballs are a reason to celebrate. I give you . . . the release on Monday of Nielsen’s “Live+3” and “Live+7” data which, in turn, engendered a flurry of press releases from outlets touting the additional viewership added to their shows in the three and seven days, respectively, following those shows’ original airdate.
Leading the pack was NBC’s “The Blacklist” (James Spader, Megan Boone), which set the record for “Live +3” viewership, adding 5.4 million viewers to its original Jan. 20 episode, bringing its total for that episode to 14.3 million viewers (from 8.8 million). NBC’s cable sister, Syfy, meanwhile, was touting its Live +7 data for its new series, “Helix,” which added an additional 64 percent more viewers in the seven days since its Jan. 10 premiere, bringing it up to 3 million viewers.
CBS, meanwhile, recorded its best-ever “Live+3” viewership for “Criminal Minds” (Thomas Gibson, Shemar Moore), which added another 3 million viewers to its Jan. 22 episode, bringing that episode’s total to 13.3 million viewers.
Meanwhile, in cable ratings, Lifetime’s “Lizzie Borden Took an Ax,” starring Christina Ricci, reeled in 4.4 million viewers Saturday night — solid, but not through-the-roof — while “Black Sails,” the first original series produced by Starz, averaged 1.7 million viewers in its Saturday night premiere. It took in nearly 2 million more viewers through on-demand and online platforms to set a record for the best series premiere in Starz history.
Starz also announced Monday that it’s going ahead with its New York-based dramatic ballet series, “Flesh and Bone,” created by “Breaking Bad” writer/executive producer Moira Walley-Beckett. The series will follow a young dancer, Claire, “who has a distinctly troubled past” as she joins “a prestigious ballet company in New York.” Dancer Sarah Hay (“Black Swan) will star as Claire, joining other dancers in the cast including Irina Dvorovenko and Sascha Radestsky.
Last, but not least . . .
Monster.com has launched a new original documentary, “Generation Job: The Pursuit to Find Better,” on Pivot . . . Tavis Smiley sits down with Chita Rivera on Wednesday’s “Tavis Smiley” (midnight and 1 p.m./Ch. 13) . . . Show-biz agency APA is expanding its footprint in Manhattan — signing a new lease for nearly 29,000 square feet on the 17th floor of 135 W. 50th St., tripling the size of its current headquarters (45 W. 45th St.) . . . Giants co-owner Steve Tisch appears as a “guest shark” on Friday’s episode of “Shark Tank” (9 p.m./Ch. 7) . . . On YouTube: “SNL” cast member Beck Bennett stars in a half live-action/half-animated short film, “PLAN C,” from Todd Waldman (“Awkward,” “Happy Endings”). It’s directed by Joey Boukadakis.