Kevin Costner portraying Devil Anse Hatfield from the History network's miniseries "Hatfields & McCoys."
Posted on 05/30/2012 5:38:14 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
There's nothing like a backwoods blood feud to excite television viewers on Memorial Day.
The first part of the History network's miniseries "Hatfields & McCoys" was seen by 13.9 million viewers on Monday night, more than 17 million when the immediate repeat was added in, the Nielsen company said. The numbers held up for part two on Tuesday, which was watched by 13.1 million, Nielsen said.
Those are huge numbers in the cable television world. No scripted series on the broadcast networks last week came close. By contrast, Fox's series finale of "House" last week reached 8.7 million people.
"Hatfields & McCoys" had a couple of big-name stars in Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton and is airing over three nights in two-hour chunks. Broadcast television was dominated by competition shows again last week, led by the 21.5 million people who watched the "American Idol" finale on Fox. "Dancing With the Stars" and "America's Got Talent" also did well.
Perhaps crowded by the marketplace, ABC's "Duets" finished a modest No. 23 in the ratings, with 6.8 million viewers. Fox's summer series "So You Think You Can Dance" also came out of the gate slowly, with 6.3 million viewers.
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
I’m watching it now (repeat). It’s excellent.
So how many Hatfield and McCoys end up dying in this show?...I watched for about 15 minutes and saw about 4 or 5 guys get killed. Must have been really big families.
certainly beats Ancient Aliens and the Lost Loves of Adolf Hitler.
IMHO, this miniseries is outstanding. I will be purchasing the DVD at the end of July. I’m looking forward the final episode tonight.
I’ve watched both nights. Best thing on TV since Band of Brothers.
IIRC, about 13 were killed during the actual feud.
Thus, we should have a few more demises in Part III.
Musta been pretty cool back in the day just being able to shoot your neighbor whenever yo¨wanted...
Somehow I am missing the attraction...
Think Wild Wild West with more trees and hills.
13+ million.
Even the ‘big four’ networks would be happy with those numbers.
I’ve been hot and cold on Costner over the years, but this one is damn good. It is engaging and entertaining. And, it pulled me away from Fox News for a couple of hours...
Well, after watching the first two nights I am surprised the McKoy clan did not go extinct.
Very well done and well worth the time to watch. Costner, Paxton, Berringer, Powers Booth and the rest deserve a lot of credit. Maybe Costner’s found his chops. He is outstanding.
RE: I’ve been hot and cold on Costner over the years, but this one is damn good.
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Costner has chosen some very bad roles over the years (think Waterworld and Robin Hood), but when he’s good, he’s really good.
I’m thinking of the likes of The Untouchables, Dances with Wolves and now Hatfield & McCoys.
He’s got to be able to choose characters that fit him. This latest TV mini-series might have broken his losing streak.
told my pops tonight the only way it could get better is if the cast had included Sam Elliot, Tom Selleck, Robert Duval and Clint Eastwood.. I loved the series Deadwood and this is much like it(understand one of the main people behind Deadwood is involved in the H & M’s)
how nice that great actors who never have to worry about money ever again would make such a great mini series for television.. I salute Costner, Booth, Berringer and Paxton.. 4 great “real men” actors
Bill Paxton as Randall McCoy!
No wait... that was his role as "punk leader" in The Terminator. Hair & Makeup *really* helps make the hillbilly.
A TV movie or mini-series was made about this feud many years ago starting Jack Palance.
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