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In its official premiere at 10 PM on Friday, Starz’s new period drama Magic City drew only 295,000 viewers, well below the network’s most recent series premiere of Boss (659,000) and far off the debuts of Spartacus: Gods Of The Arena, (1.098 million), Camelot (1.125 million) and Torchwood: Miracle Day (819,000). For the 10 and 11 PM airings on Friday, the Magic City premiere averaged a combined 423,000 viewers vs. 1.05 million for Boss, and 965,000 for the weekend vs. 1.72 million for Boss.There were two mitigating factors: first, Magic City‘s premiere fell on Good Friday when fewer people were watching TV, and secondly, it had already run on Starz the week before. Just like the first episode of HBO’s Luck aired a preview behind the season finale of Boardwalk Empire before officially premiering it a month later, the Magic City opener aired behind the Spartacus finale the previous week when it did better, drawing 730,000 viewers in Live+3. Starz says that the pilot episode of Magic City has been seen by 2.5 million Starz viewers to date, including 670,000 on-demand views. Of course, Magic City‘s fate doesn’t depend on ratings: the series starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan was renewed for a second season ahead of its premiere.
TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.
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Magic City was not very magical. I will give it one more episode.
give it 3 – I saw the first 3 on line and am hooked – each one gets stronger and more compelling. A quick poll of my group of friends who watched = most really liked or loved the show. I’m sticking with it.
Okay, and thanks for the tip. I will give it at least three episodes to gain traction.
Give it three. We could not even get through the first. Horrible writing, worse acting. The only good thing about the time we wasted were the cars and the buildings.
why would anyone tune in for the official premiere if it was avail on the internet and on demand for free? AND if it was shown the week before…poor marketing strategy, isn’t it?
This would be a great idea for a show nearly anywhere but when I found out Starz was producing I lowered my expectations. I had high hopes for BOSS when that first premiered but it ended up boring me to tears. I’m sure they’ll find a way to screw this up too.
And don’t they know Magic City is a strip club in Atlanta?
Magic City has been a nickname for Miami for decades.
Why do they release the first three episodes online ahead of the premiere? Is it to try and get people interested? Because it would seem people don’t tune in when they can just watch them when they want ahead of time?
I enjoyed the show, and I think by the third episode you’ll know if you want to keep watching or not. I’ll keep watching just to see what Danny Huston is up to..pretty fun to watch as Ben Diamond.
I watched all three episodes on Starz.com. I will watch the other five, when they air, but Starz’s formula seems to be Friday night programming. Not sure who is going to catch these programs on that night.
Its a great show but as someone said above, really poor marketing stretegy. Most people had already seen all 3eps by the time ep1 “officially” premiered. Also, the women on this show are the most beautiful women on TV, why they put a buncha dudes on the poster baffles me.
I do not understand how Starz works. They cancel their hit shows and then renew shows like this before they hit the air.
New CEO trying to put his stamp on things, even if the wrong choice. Party Down was the best but CEO decision was to cancel and fire the entire development team. Most creative folks will steer clear of Starz for some time.
I WANTED to like this but after watching the premier episode and about 45 minutes of the second I gave up. I’m not invested in ANY of the characters and the plot moves s l o w l y.
Kids these days that can’t go 5 minutes without checking their phones would call Magic City “slow” or “boring” when in fact it’s neither.
I only saw the first episode (Starz’s player on their site is bunk) but LOVED it. Retro, yes, but more expansive than Mad Men, which mostly takes place indoors.
Jeffrey Lee Morgan is the slimmer, hipper 21st century Raymond Burr, IMO. Well cast all around, including Danny Huston. Liked the plot so far. Funny how the nets couldn’t get the 60s right with the flawed Playboy Club or Pan Am, but Magic City knocks it out of the park, and no, it’s not just because of the nudity and violence.
Glad that Starz reupped for a second season.
And if you thought Boss was boring, guess what? You’re a moron. But T.I. will be in it next season, bet you’d like it then.
Interesting about Jeffery Lee Morgan…but how was the star of the show–Jeffrey DEAN Morgan?
You could’ve looked that up on your phone, Matlock.
I love your argument: If you don’t like what I like–you’re an idiot.
You must be a hoot at The Moose Lodge.
The best pilot script I’ve read in years
The worst pilot I’ve seen in years
So badly directed
Horribly cast- Jeffrey Dean Morgan is not a star at all. Who decided that Danny Huston was a star? And who were those women?
Sorry guys. You blew it
its awesome,my hubby remembers the 50′s i was born rthen but the show, its cool.the first 3 episodes are “on demand” already
I hadn’t even heard about it… so much for marketing. My interest is piqued by comments here though, so I’ll catch it On Demand.
If you haven’t already seen any of the show, don’t bother. It’s the same tired gangster cliche’s and bad dialogue. To anyone who has already seen the first 3 episodes, weren’t that impressed and “decided to give a few more episodes?” Guess what? Because the entire 1st season is only 8 episodes that means you’ll be watching the whole season based on unfulfilled “potential.” Doesn’t matter to Starz whether you watched because you thought it was wonderful or because you were “just giving it a chance.” Starz will love it, brag on it and use it to justify the second season of this crap.
Great production design,Wonderful photography give it time
I was not to sure about The Sopranos first time around.
Jeffery Dean Morgan is so utterly boring and untalented I had to turn the channel. Sorry. Plenty of great actors out there and they choose this guy? Don’t get it.
Horrible show and a money pit for Starz.
I really like this show…. It excites me to get a glimpse of old times and besides its shot in my favorite va’cat spot… Gives a girl life????
The best things about this show are Danny Huston’s great villainry and Jessica Marais’ world class ass.Let’s hope we get a lot more of both.
I like Starz, but I don’t like this show.This has been done over and over and over on TV.The same thing, “THE MOB” Starz you could have done a lot better. I to do not understand Starz choice of programing. I was a fan of Camelot,it was fantasy yes but still good intertainment.The portrayal of the character Merlin was very wimpy, but that was the writers fault.So Starz cancels it.Spartacus is a lot better in my opinion.
BOYCOT MAGIC CITY!! I won’t watch this any more – YOU KILLED A DOG!! Bad move. I was raised in this area and era of Miami and thought I wanted to relive it. But you ruined it for me. BOYCOT MAGIC CITY!!
Magic City is going to survive. Starz is undisputed in many ways. It was dynamic in production and clarity for defining its geographic setting and the fashions are great and the actors are on point in their craft. Haters this is great history and one can learn from this monumental era to understand the diversity of all the fabric of ethnicity that is weaved into the design of America at its finest times.
Get a grip and watch the series and enjoy yourself and relax and learn. This is great stuff!
Wrong! Camelot is good history. This show is junk. Starz made a big mistake booting Camelot for this Wise Guys wannabe!
Magic City is the best mini series that I have seen yet. I just hope that each episode is better than the last. I have seen all 3 that have currently been released. I feel that the plot line is excellent. This was a magical time in the history of our country. I would have loved to have lived in Miami during this period. The set is a work of art and seems so real to match the era. Those who have written negative comments should give this series a little more time to unfold the drama yet to come..
It always troubles me when I read a review from an obvious artistically ignorant creep pounding his chest like a deranged auto mechanic loving only the cool cars on the show and nothing else. Dude, listen to me: try to learn to allow yourself to fall into the dream. I know u don’t understand me but we artists (who have to put up with people like u) know what I am talking about. U didn’t get it. You thought the show was crap. No, it’s not perfect, it drips with flavor and future intrigue. It’s like a big car crash. U know it’s coming but u want to watch it anyway because it was filmed well and u get to examine every detail of the horrific accident with a musical score and sound effects. Why is it that we watch ganster
I accidently posted my unfinished posts. Left off with “why do we watch ganster”movies? We know what’s going to happen, yet, we want to be a fly on the wall in their world. Same with Magic City. People like u don’t know and never knew good theatre if we served it up on a silver platter. I bet u just loved Gone in 60 Seconds……Right? Tell the truth…thought so….I rest my case
I had to comment about the person who said Starz marketing strategy was poor….. I disagree!!!!
I personally think the strategy behind airing the first few episodes a few weeks early was genious! Making the first 3 episodes available On Demand a few weeks before the premier (premiering the 4th episode) gave millions of OD subscribers the time and chance to get “hooked” in time for the premier. this show is in my top 10… And I was hooked in just 3 shows… I smell Starz cooking up to be the next Showtime!!!! Don’t even get me started on Showtime. I could Blog about Showtime’s House of Lies, Californication, Shameless, Dexter & Nurse Jackie and convince hundreds of thousands of Of OD viewers or not… to watch these shows. The chicken or the egg… These days its impossible to really say, The writers and the actors are both insanely brilliant!