'Revolution' Sets NBC Ratings Record

Proving that the hype of a media advertising blitz truly does pay off, the sci-fi drama Revolution premiered to record television ratings for NBC on Monday night.

Produced by JJ Abrams (Fringe, Lost, Alias) and creator Eric Kripke (Supernatural), the neo-medieval thriller about a future without electricity drew 11.7 million viewers and a strong 4.1 rating in the adult demographic during its 10:00 pm timeslot, setting a ratings record for the peacock network.

Although Revolution was down a bit from the 4.6 rating of its lead-in, singing competition The Voice, a 4.1 is a fantastic number for its timeslot. Not only was it the largest audience for the premiere of a drama on NBC since Bionic Woman in 2007, it was the biggest series premiere for a drama on any broadcast network since the remake of V on ABC in 2009.

The only downside is that Revolution dropped from a 4.4 in its first half-hour to a 3.8 for the second half, suggesting that a number of viewers changed the channel midway through the pilot episode, directed by Jon Favreau (Iron Man, Cowboys & Aliens, Swingers). Up against stiffer competition from new episodes of CBS' Hawaii Five-O and ABC's Castle next week, that could mean a much lower rating for its second episode.

Nevertheless, NBC would still be pleased with a 2.4 rating in the timeslot, so as long as the creative team behind Revolution can produce compelling stories and deliver on the mysteries surrounding its central conceit, the series should have a bright future, even if its characters are living in the dark.

Were you one of those viewers who switched off Revolution at the halfway point? What made you give up on the show so soon?