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Prison Break's Risky Premiere Shocked Fox Executives
29 Aug
Summary
- Premiere ratings appeased executive doubts about serialized format.
- Show premiered to 10.5 million viewers on August 29, 2005.
- Strong initial viewership led to extended Season 1 episode order.
Fox executives harbored doubts about the serialized nature of "Prison Break," fearing it might not resonate with audiences. However, the show's premiere on August 29, 2005, shattered these concerns, drawing an impressive 10.5 million viewers.
The strong viewership, especially within the crucial 18-to-49 demographic, provided significant validation. The premiere's success was notable, particularly as it aired just before the official fall TV season began.
This overwhelming audience response prompted Fox to extend the first season's initial order of 13 episodes to a total of 22. Critics also observed that "Prison Break" benefited from a lack of strong original dramas on competing networks that season.
