Series Premiere of FARGO is Rating's Winner for FX

With the complete Live+7 data now in, Fargo, one of TV's most critically-acclaimed programs has also become the most time-shifted premiere of any drama or miniseries in FX history, among Adults 18-49, Adults 25-54 and Total Viewers. The multi-telecast gross audience for the premiere episode, "The Crocodile's Dilemma," and its five encore runs came to 8.2 million Total Viewers, 3.6 million Adults 18-49 and 3.8 million Adults 24-54.

Factoring in the Live+7 data, the first run of the premiere episode of Fargo (April 15, 10:00pm - 11:37pm) saw lifts of +94% in P18-49 (1.98 million from 1.02 million), +96% in P25-54 (2.20 million from 1.12 million) and +84% in Total Viewers (4.88 million from 2.65 million) versus Live+Same Day data.

P2+ P 18-49
Fargo Series Premiere 000s Rtg 000s
Live+SD 2,654 0.99 1,021
Live+3 4,459 1.72 1,779
Live+7 4,876 1.91 1,977
% Lift, Live+SD to Live+3 +68% +74%
% Lift, Live+SD to Live+7 +84% +94%
% Lift, Live to Live+7 +128% +154%
% Lift, Live+3 to Live+7 +9% +11%

In next week's fifth installment of the 10-episode limited series, "The Six Ungraspables" (Airs Tuesday, May 13 at 10:00pm-11:14pm ET/PT), when Lester (Martin Freeman) has a close call, Molly (Allison Tolman) makes an unorthodox decision. Gus (Colin Hanks) weighs some neighborly advice, and Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton) gets what he wants. Written by Noah Hawley; directed by Colin Bucksey.

An original adaptation of the Academy Award(R)-winning feature film, Fargo features an all-new "true crime" story and follows a new case and new characters, all entrenched in the trademark humor, murder and "Minnesota nice" that made the film an enduring classic. Oscar(R) winner Billy Bob Thornton stars as "Lorne Malvo," a rootless, manipulative man who meets and forever changes the life of small town insurance salesman "Lester Nygaard," played by BAFTA Award(R) winner and Emmy(R)-nominated Martin Freeman. Colin Hanks plays Duluth Police Deputy "Gus Grimly," a single dad who must choose between his own personal safety and his duty as a policeman when he comes face-to-face with a killer. Allison Tolman also stars as "Molly Solverson," an ambitious Bemidji deputy.

Rounding out Fargo's colorful cast of recurring characters will be Emmy winner Bob Odenkirk as "Deputy Bill Oswalt," Golden Globe(TM) and Emmy-nominated Oliver Platt as "Stavros Milos," Screen Actors Guild Award(R) winner Kate Walsh as "Gina Hess," Glenn Howerton (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) as "Don Chumph," Joey King as "Greta Grimly," Peter Breitmayer as "Lieutenant Schmidt," Tom Musgrave as "Bo Munk," Josh Close as "Chazz Nygaard," Russell Harvard as "Mr. Wrench," Adam Goldberg as "Mr. Numbers," Keegan-Michael Key as "Bill Budge" and Jordan Peele as "Webb Pepper."

Fargo is produced by MGM Television and FX Productions.

Source: The Nielsen Company. Reach based on Most Current data thru 5/1/14 with standard 75% unification and 6 minute qualifier.

About MGM Television

MGM Television is a leading producer and global distributor of content for television and digital platforms, with original productions and a robust catalog of 10,500 television episodes and nearly 4,000 feature film titles covering some of entertainment's premiere franchises including the James Bond franchise and "The Hobbit" trilogy. Current television projects include the hit series "Vikings," in its second season on HISTORY; "Fargo," a co-production with FX Productions and "Teen Wolf," currently in production on its fourth season. In addition, MGM Television serves as the syndicator for "Right This Minute" and "Let's Ask America." Through its finance and distribution entity ,Orion TV Productions, MGM Television has brought the courtroom series "Paternity Court" to syndication in 92% of the U.S. For more information, visit www.mgm.com

About FX Productions

FX Productions (FXP) produces the critically acclaimed hit comedy series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League, Louie, Archer, Wilfred, Legit, Chozen, and upcoming comedies Married (June 2014), You're the Worst (June 2014), and The Untitled Tracy Morgan Project (January 2015), and the drama series The Strain (July 2014). FXP co-produces the award-winning hit dramas Sons of Anarchy, Justified, and The Americans, the acclaimed drama series The Bridge, and the upcoming drama Tyrant (June 2014). FXP is also co-producing the limited series Fargo starring Billy Bob Thornton and Martin Freeman.

About FX

FX is the flagship general entertainment basic cable channel of FX Networks, a business unit of FOX Networks Group. FX Networks is comprised of FX, FXM and FXX, its newest channel, which debuted on September 2, 2013. Launched in June of 1994, FX is carried in more than 96 million homes. The diverse schedule features a growing roster of critically-acclaimed and award-winning hit dramas series, including Sons of Anarchy, Justified, The Americans and The Bridge; the upcoming dramas Tyrant (June 2014) and The Strain (July 2014); the miniseries American Horror Story and Fargo; the acclaimed hit comedy series Louie (May 5, 2014) and Archer; the new animated comedy Chozen; and scripted comedies Married and You're The Worst, both launching in summer of 2014. The network's library of acquired box-office hit movies is unmatched by any ad-supported television network. FX's roster of acquired hit series includes Two and a Half Men, Anger Management and, coming in 2014, Mike & Molly.

Photo: Facebook/Fargo

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