I haven't watched American Horror Story: Freak Show yet because I'm still feeling a little bit burned from Coven last year. I absolutely loved the first few episodes but then it became clear that creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuck didn't really know where they were taking us. It just felt like they weren't outlining and the show lost its sense of stakes when every character that died could be reincarnated. Still, a lot of people clearly love the program since the premiere of Freak Show is the most watched program in the history of FX, beating even the recent Sons of Anarchy final-season premiere. So of course we're now getting American Horror Story: Season 5.
The fourth season stars Sarah Paulson, Kathy Bates, Michael Chiklis, Evan Peters, Angela Basset, Emma Roberts, Denis O’Hare, Frances Conroy, Patti LaBelle, Finn Wittrock, Naomi Grossman, Wes Bently, and John Caroll Lynch. Hit the jump for more on the ratings success and the upcoming American Horror Story: Season 5.
From the press release. I don't normally post so much text from these releases, but these numbers are insane:
Producer Ryan Murphy’s Emmy® and Golden Globe® award winning anthology miniseries American Horror Story has paid big dividends as his newest installment, American Horror Story: Freak Show has broken all ratings records for FX with its premiere episode last Wednesday night (10/8/14, 10-11:32PM). In light of that record-setting performance, FX has rewarded American Horror Storywith a 13-episode order for the fifth and next installment of the show, which will debut in October 2015, it was announced today by John Landgraf, CEO, FX Networks and FX Productions.
With Live+3 time-shifted viewing, the premiere telecast of American Horror Story: Freak Show has become the most-watched single program in FX’s 20-year history and that includes all programs with Live+7 deliveries. AHS: Freak Show’s debut delivered 10 million Total Viewers, 6.54 million Adults 18-49, and 4.08 million Adults 18-34, surpassing the network’s previous record holder, the recent seventh and final season premiere telecast of the hit drama series Sons of Anarchy on Sept. 9th (9.25 million Total Viewers and 6.1 million Adults 18-49). American Horror Story: Coven held all previous records in delivery Adults 18-34.
The premiere and two encore telecasts of American Horror Story: Freak Show combined to deliver 13.36 million Total Viewers, 8.6 million Adults 18-49 and 5.25 million Adults 18-34.
“The American Horror Story anthology has had the highest growth trajectory of any show in FX history, not to mention an unprecedented track record of success in awards recognition,” said Landgraf. “With Ryan Murphy and his partners, Brad Falchuk, Dante Di Loreto and Tim Minear at the helm, the show’s success is not surprising. AHS continues to deliver amazing stories, a brilliant troupe of actors led by Jessica Lange, and a visual style unlike any other on TV. With Nip/Tuck, Glee, The Normal Heart, and American Horror Story, Ryan Murphy has established himself as one of the most successful and prolific producers of this generation. We expect AHS: Freak Show and the next incarnation of AHS to further his legacy.”
The premiere ratings for American Horror Story: Freak Show topped the premiere episode of last year’s third installment of the franchise, American Horror Story: Coven, by +38% in Total Viewers (10 million vs. 7.27 million), +29% in Adults 18-49 (6.54 million vs. 5.07 million), and +40% in Adults 18-34 (4.08 million vs. 2.92 million).
The premiere ratings for American Horror Story: Freak Show topped the 13-episode average of American Horror Story: Coven, by +53% in Total Viewers (10 million vs. 6.53 million), +44% in Adults 18-49 (6.54 million vs. 4.55 million), and +61% in Adults 18-34 (4.08 million vs. 2.53 million).
What weird world do you think they will inhabit for Season 5?
