Starz’s ‘Magic City’ Off To Very Slow Start In Official Premiere, Boosted By Previews
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.
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