While MTV contemplates the future of their British import ‘Skins’ after a whirlwind week of negative publicity, Syfy’s own import ‘Being Human’ about the lives of a werewolf, vampire and ghost is stealing its thunder – and viewers.
‘Skins’ fell a whopping 52% from its premiere to second episode as advertisers pulled out amidst pressure the show was borderline child pornography with actors as young as 15 engaging in sex, drugs and rock-n-roll. It was expected to slip some without the ‘Jersey Shore’ lead-in the premiere enjoyed, but not more than half of its viewership.
Syfy’s ‘Being Human’ entered its second episode coming off a huge cliffhanger so it was expected to maintain a good portion of its initial audience. No one – not even Syfy – could have predicted the second episode would not only match the premiere, but beat it.
Syfy reports the second episode of ‘Being Human’ attracted 2.14 million viewers Monday night, a 9% increase from the premiere. It grew even more in the 18-49 demo with a 21% increase to 1.21 million, roughly 41% more viewers in that coveted demo than ‘Skins’ drew its second episode.
Of the 2.14 million who tuned in to ‘Being Human’ Monday night, 614k of them where women. That represents the largest female audience for a Syfy show since an early episode of Warehouse 13 two summers ago.
The future is bright for ‘Being Human,’ the first winter-launched show to launch strongly since Ron Moore and David Eick’s Battlestar Galactica back in 2005. ‘Skins,’ however, could be on the chopping block if it sustains another setback in the ratings. That is if MTV isn’t already contemplating skinning the raunchy show.
