CBS appears to have a smash hit on its hands with their new hour-long scripted drama Under the Dome, based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Stephen King. The show (which features a small town in Maine that suddenly finds itself surrounded by a mysterious, clear, impenetrable dome) premiered on Sunday to more than 13.5 million viewers, making it “the most-watched summer drama premiere on any network since 1992,” according to a press release from the network.
Needless to say, a “mysterious, clear, impenetrable dome” has the characters in the show scratching their heads. The supernatural concept apparently also has some viewers a bit perplexed, so CBS has released the above “Rules of Under the Dome” graphic to help answer some questions about the gigantic fish bowl (without revealing any spoilers). Here they are:
Rules of Under the Dome
• You experience a shock the first time you touch the DOME, but after that you will not
• WARNING! Those with pacemakers or other battery operated equipment should never touch the DOME!
• The DOME is semi-permeable. Trace amounts of water can pass through both ways.
• The DOME produces its own micro-climate.
• Clouds can gather inside the DOME.
• There will be wind inside the DOME.
• Climate change on Earth is NOT affecting the DOME.
• No phone calls can be made inside the DOME.
• There is no wi-fi inside the DOME.
• There are no TV signals inside the DOME.
I notice they didn’t mention radio signals not working, as is obvious from the still-operating local radio station in the premiere. The only think I don’t like is “There will be wind inside the DOME.” Not only is it phrased a little differently than all the others, but it’s the only one that has me scrunching my brow and thinking to myself, “that seems dumb.”
So what’s up Starcasm readers? How many of you were among the more than 13.5 million who tuned in to the Premiere? Did you like it? Will you be tuning in again? I admit I kinda dug it and I’ll certainly be giving it another go – even if it does come on Sunday nights when there are 473 other shows I want to watch on as well. (GRRRRRRRR!!!)
Here is the CBS press release about the huge ratings (with the revised numbers update):
13.14 MILLION VIEWERS GO “UNDER THE DOME”
The Most-Watched Summer Drama Premiere on Any Network Since 1992
“Under The Dome” is CBS’s Most-Watched Summer Premiere Among Any Genre Since “Big Brother” in 2000 and Best in Adults 18-49 Since 2005
CBS premiere of UNDER THE DOME, based on the bestselling novel by acclaimed author Stephen King and produced by Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Television, delivered 13.14 million viewers, the most-watched summer drama premiere on any network since 1992, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same day ratings for Monday, June 24.
The premiere of UNDER THE DOME, broadcast against NBC’s final game of the Stanley Cup Finals (Boston Bruins vs. Chicago Blackhawks), averaged 13.14 million viewers, 3.2/09 in adults 18-49 and 4.3/11 in adults 25-54.
This is the most-watched summer drama premiere broadcast on any network since 1992 (CBS’s “2000 Malibu Road”). In addition, UNDER THE DOME delivered CBS’s largest audience among any genre for a summer series premiere since 2000 (“Big Brother”). It was also the best delivery in adults 18-49 among any genre, for a summer series premiere on CBS since June 7, 2005 (“Fire Me”).
Among all broadcast network drama series premieres this television year, UNDER THE DOME posted the second-highest adult 18-49 rating (tied with “The Following”) and adults 25-54 ratings.
Updated ratings will be available later today.
UPDATED NATIONAL RATINGS
Adults 18-49 Ratings Gain Another Tenth of a Point to 3.3
CBS’s premiere of UNDER THE DOME posted increases in viewers, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54, according to Nielsen updated ratings for Monday, June 24.
UNDER THE DOME increased its viewership to 13.53 million (from 13.14m) and gained +0.1 rating points to 3.3/09 in adults 18-49 (from 3.2/09) and +0.2 rating points to 4.5/11 in adults 25-54 (from 4.3/11).
