Los Angeles: A bit of ratings counselling is in need for Charlie Sheen’s TV comeback: His FX series Anger Management saw another double-digit drop in viewership in its third week.
Its fourth episode, which aired on Thursday night, delivered 2.4 million total viewers, according to Nielsen figures — down 28 per cent from the previous week and 27 per cent in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demo.
The viewership dive is all the more troubling considering its second week had already experienced a drop of two million viewers. A stark contrast from the headlines its debut generated.
Its double-episode premiere set records for a cable comedy premiere and a launch for the network — garnering as much as 5.74 million viewers — but it seems viewer curiosity has waned for Sheen’s follow-up to Two and a Half Men, repeats of which also air on FX.
Dithering numbers threaten the show’s chances at a 90-episode renewal — which was meant to solidify Sheen’s comeback after his heavily headlined lifestyle led to his firing by CBS.
Anger Management must meet an undislosed ratings threshold as part of FX’s arrangement with distributor Debmar-Mercury — if it’s to continue. That decision won’t be made until after the comedy’s ten-episode run.
However, its well-performing debut won’t count toward the show’s average. But as Sheen once pontificated during his off-kiltered media blitz, panicking is for amateurs and morons.
