American Horror Story Ends Season With Over 3.22 Million Viewers

The season one finale of FX's hit drama series American Horror Story was the series' most-watched episode with 3.22 million Total Viewers, and it ranked as cable's top program (Live+Same Day) on Wednesday in delivery of Adults 18-49 (2.19 million), Adults 25-54 (1.9 million) and Adults 18-34 (1.25 million). Last night's episode will likely top 5 million total viewers inclusive of Live+7, as the series posted the highest percentage increase of DVR usage of any television in 2011.

In addition, Ryan Murphy, Co-Creator and Executive Producer of American Horror Story, announced today that AHS will be a seasonal anthology series going forward. Every future season of the show would feature a new story, new setting, new theme, and new cast members, while some actors from the previous season could return to the series playing entirely new characters.

On a weekly basis, inclusive of linear viewing, video-on-demand and online viewing, American Horror Story is averaging 8.6 million Total Viewers per episode (data through five weeks).

Currently, with nine weeks of Live+7 data from The Nielsen company, American Horror Story is averaging 4.4 million viewers, 3.3 million Adults 18-49 and 2.0 million Adults 18-34 on a first-run basis. It is the #1 new scripted series on basic cable this year in delivery of Adults 18-34 (2.0 million). It is currently tied with Falling Skies for the top new series in Adults 18-49 (3.3 million), but likely to be #1 outright when Live+7 data is available for the full season. AHS by far is the highest-rated first season of any series, topping Justified by 29% in Total Viewers, and Murphy's previous FX hit Nip/Tuck by 50% in Adults 18-49. The series premiere episode of American Horror Story, ranks as the #1 series premiere ever for the network among its target demos of Adults 18-49 (3.14 million) and Adults 18-34 (1.77 million).

American Horror Story was the only ad-supported cable series nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Drama Series, and Jessica Lange received Golden Globe Award and SAG Award nominations for her performance in the role of "Constance."

American Horror Story revolved around the Harmons, a family of three who moved from Boston to Los Angeles as a means to reconcile past anguish. The all-star cast featured Dylan McDermott as "Ben Harmon," a psychiatrist; Connie Britton as "Vivien Harmon," Ben's wife; Taissa Farmiga as "Violet," the Harmon's teenage daughter; Jessica Lange in her first-ever regular series TV role as "Constance," the Harmon's neighbor; Evan Peters plays "Tate Langdon," one of Ben's patients; and Denis O'Hare as "Larry Harvey." Guest stars for the series include Frances Conroy as the Harmon's housekeeper, "Moira"; Alexandra Breckenridge also as the Harmon's housekeeper, "Moira"; and Jamie Brewer as Constance's daughter.

American Horror Story was co-created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, who serve as Executive Producers along with Dante di Loreto. The series is produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television.

FX is the flagship general entertainment basic cable network from the Fox Networks Group. Launched in June of 1994, FX is carried in more than 98 million homes. The diverse schedule includes a growing roster of critically acclaimed and award-winning original series, an established film library with box-office hits from 20th Century Fox and other studios and an impressive roster of acquired hit series. For more information about FX, visit our web site at www.FXnetworks.com.

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