'Anger Management' Loses 2.1M Viewers in Second Week

Charlie Sheen comedy drops to 3.37 million total viewers

By Lindsay Rubino -- Broadcasting & Cable, 7/6/2012 5:47:02 PM

In its second week, FX's new Charlie Sheen comedy Anger Management lost a significant 2.1 million viewers, a 38% decrease, from its premiere to draw 3.37 million total viewers for its third episode.

Among the adults 18-49 demo, Anger Management drew 1.71 million viewers, down 35% from the premiere episode, which had drawn 2.65 million and increased to 2.89 million for the 9:30 p.m. episode.

Anger Management was also down to a 1.3 rating among adults 18-49, dropping 38% from its premiere episode, which earned a 2.1 and increased to a 2.3 in its later episode.

The second week ratings are more significant because Anger Management's first two episodes do not count toward the ratings threshold it must hit to trigger the additional 90-episode order from Debmar-Mercury, should the series be a success.

In an interview with B&C last month, FX chief John Landgraf declined to specify the ratings mark Anger must hit but said, "It's consonant with our best comedy ratings for our original comedies."

Wilfred was previously FX's top-rated comedy premiere, drawing 2.33 million adults 18-49 to its June 2011 debut. For its second episode of the season, Wilfred was down 38% from its premiere to 1.45 million total viewers. Louie was also down 25% to 1.08 million total viewers from last week's season premiere.