A Ratings Pulse From 90s Heartthrobs

By Thomas Umstead -- Multichannel News, 8/23/2010 12:01:00 AM

New York — Several new shows heated up an already sizzling summer ratings run for cable networks.

ABC Family’s new comedy series Melissa & Joey — starring the 1990s teen heartthrobs Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence — drew 2.1 million viewers in its Aug. 17 debut. It was the network’s most viewed comedy series debut on record, according to network officials. The series, which airs at 8 p.m., beat out last summer’s July 7 premiere of The 10 Th ings I Hate About You, which drew 1.6 million viewers.

The series, in which Lawrence plays a live-in “manny” to working mother Hart’s teenage niece and nephew, also set network records for a comedy series among adults 18-49 (1.26 million), adults 18-34 (712,000) and viewers 12 to 34 (1 million), the network said.

TruTV’s Aug. 16 debut of reality series Hardcore Pawn drew 2 million viewers — a record series premiere for the network.

The series, which takes a behind-thescenes look at Detroit’s American Jewelry and Loan pawn shop, topped the 1.7 million viewers garnered by the April 12 debut of reality series Southern Fried Stings, according to the network. Hardcore Pawn also set network records in several key demographic categories, including adults 18-49 (1 million viewers) and men 18-49 (568,000), the network said.

Comedy Central’s Aug. 17 launch of its new comedy series Big Lake had a lukewarm ratings debut.

The half-hour comedy series starring Chris Gethard as a discredited financial whiz kid who returns home to live with his parents, averaged 830,000 viewers in its 10 p.m. debut. Big Lake is produced by Will Ferrell’s and Adam McKay’s Gary Sanchez Productions.