The premiere of A+E Networks’ four-night Roots reboot logged 5.3 million viewers across History, A&E and Lifetime on Memorial Day.
The first installment, which aired simultaneously on the three networks, also got repeated two more times over the course of the evening, to cume a total of 8.5M viewers.
The crowd marks the biggest overall crowd for a cable miniseries opening in three years, since the December 2013 opening of four-hour mini Bonnie & Clyde delivered 9.8 million total viewers. But the latest adaptation of Alex Haley’s best-seller fell short of Bonnie & Clyde’s 4.2 million viewers among adults 25-54 viewers. Roots logged 2.1M in that demo, as well as 1.8M 18-49 year old viewers. Bonnie & Clyde also had been simulcast on Lifetime, A&E and History.
And, like Bonnie & Clyde, Roots was no match for the record highs of History’s first two miniseries: Hatfields & McCoys and The Bible.
Hatfields & Mc Coys opened on Memorial Day in 2012 with 13.9 million viewers. The Bible premiered with 13.1 million viewers tune in, in March of ‘2013. The Bible and Hatfields & McCoys aired only on History, for which Bonnie & Clyde originally had been developed.
Last night’s Roots ratings likely were impacted by Game 7 of NBA playoffs which, in turn, could boost L+3 stats.
And, to the surprise of no one, Roots‘ opening crowd did not challenge the ratings performance of the original 1977 ABC miniseries, which had amassed an historic 130 million viewers back when the broadcast networks – except Fox which had not yet launched, dominated airwaves.
The new look at Roots, which begins with the abduction in Africa of Kunta Kinte (Malachi Kirby) and spans decades to include the American Civil War, is unfolding over four consecutive nights, with a different director helming each night, including Phillip Noyce, Mario Van Peebles, Thomas Carter and Bruce Beresford.
“This project has helped shape the discourse around race and identity at a time when it is needed more than ever. We are looking forward to audiences continuing to experience this powerful and important event over the next three nights,” Nancy Dubuc, President & CEO of A+E Networks said today in a statement.
That’s terrible compared to Hatfields. Everyone was saying that this had broader appeal than a western but guess not. Maybe today’s white people are tired of being attacked for stuff they had nothing to do with.
This is the biggest audience in 3 years but you are trying to create a negative spin. That’s hilarious. You say today’s white people is being attacked by this film yet they have nothing to do with [the film’s premise]. So which is it? Is this film about “today’s white people” or not?
If only you understood how stupid you are for peddling that lame attempt at victimhood, the world would be a better place. Awareness and honoring history is the same thing as blame now? Some people need their internet access revoked for good.
Guess Snoop Dog doesn’t have the clout he thinks he has…..
Why so sensitive, it’s a movie based on slavery. If it makes you feel something for another Human being, regardless of the color of their skin. If you put yourselves in their situation, what would you feel, what would you do. If you have ever experienced a job where your boss keeps screaming at you and overworking you. Then you know it’s not a great feeling at all. Now imagine working for free being beaten and hung for wanting to be free, being taken away from your family. What an experience that would be. There are slaves of many difference races. What we’re exploring and experiencing in the movie roots is human nature. In a set period. This is not for anyone to have “white” guilt. This is for everyone to see that the will of one man could not be broken no matter others did to him. If only some, including myself could have that will today. This transcends race. Let’s evolve to the next level. Love and respect for each other.
Excellent assessment
Watching last night only made me want to rewatch the original. Some network should air that. I was actually disappointed with the show. Preferred WGN Underground. I guess what I learned was that Africans were enslaving each other before ever selling them to white Europeans
Correct – Egyptian pharaoh’s were enslaving Jews centuries before white Europeans showed up. So was the Romans. It was unfortunately practiced all around the world and was a profitable trade.
Slavery has been around since some early humans realized they had an advantage over some other humans. They were stronger than another group, or had better weapons, or outnumbered them…something existed whereby one group could conquer another and subjugate them. This story is a multigenerational tale of what evolved when a certain man was taken to another land, and lived as a slave, even as his lineage continued. It is also, in a larger sense, a retelling of what slavery brought to this country, what it cost, and how we, as a nation, are stilling paying the price.
Guilt is not what this story is about. What it’s about is how we, as current makers of our history, need to remember this part of who we were, and who we are. Neither being defensive, nor taking on the bleeding heart “mia culpa” role, is the best response. Simply trying to understand that this piece of America’s history has had, and still has, an impact on all of us, in every facet of our society, is what I think the creators intend.
Dramatically, it’s a story of human courage, strength of spirit, and love of life continuing to thrive in the face of deceit, cruelty, misery and death. There are many stories of this throughout history and beyond, this is ours.
Well said!
This is the worse written Produced and Acting I have ever seen in my life..even the Reality shows have better acting and scripts than the New Roots…what a disappointment..This show Demonizes Whites..White Christians and even trys to make Jesus Our Savior God look Racist..this show is straight from a BLM mind and pitt;s of Hell..
It also aired on LMN.