TNT’s successful summer launches continue with Sean Bean’s “Legend”

PanARMENIAN.Net - Perpetually killed-off actor Sean Bean won't yet have to worry about the chopping block for his new series. Legends had a very respectable opening for TNT on Wednesday, August 13 night, grossing 3.6 million viewers with two airings, The Hollywood Reporter said.

The inaugural 9 p.m. telecast scored 2.6 million viewers. And while that doesn't exactly seem like the most exciting figure, it pulled that number without any established series lead-in. TNT can already boast the top two summer launches in The Last Ship (5.3 million) and Murder in the First (3.8 million).

Among adults 25-54, Legends nabbed 1.1 million viewers for the night — with 1 million viewers falling into the adults 18-49 demo.

TNT has been topping the basic cable charts all summer, besting closest rival USA among total viewers. It's done that largely thanks to its returning roster of Major Crimes and Rizzoli & Isles. The duo, most recently averaging a respective 7.8 million and 8.4 million viewers in latest live-plus-7 returns, stand as the network's two MVPs. They now rival even The Closer at the height of its popularity.

The Last Ship's huge premiere and solid performance since nabbed it an early renewal for a sophomore season. Major Crimes and Falling Skies have also struck deals for returns, with a renewal for Rizzoli & Isles expected to come down the pipeline soon.

Murder in the First remains a question mark. Though the Steven Bochco drama finished its run (3.4 million) near its premiere high, the network has yet to say anything about its future.