THE sanitized version of “Sex and the City” has cleaned up so far on TBS.
Reruns of the randy HBO series – now minus nudity and profanity – averaged roughly 3.1 million viewers last week on TBS, which airs the show twice each night (at 10 and 10:36).
Last week, the Tuesday, Thursday and Friday episodes of “Sex” beat the broadcast networks in several key demos, including women 18-34 and adults 18-34.
“This is a big deal for TBS,” says industry analyst Marc Berman of Mediaweek. “The thing about this show is so many people who don’t get HBO heard about it, and they’re finding it now.”
“Sex and the City” wrapped its six-season run on HBO last Februrary, drawing 10.6 million viewers for its finale – which wrapped up many loose ends surrounding Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Charlotte (Kristin Davis), Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) and Samantha (Kim Cattrall).
“The show still works,” Berman says. “It’s a well-written, well-acted comedy that, even without the [sex and profanity] still isn’t diluted.
“It’s a huge advantage for TBS.”
There was a big question mark surrounding the premiere of “Sex” on TBS – namely, whether the show would lose some of its oomph – and a large chunk of audience – once it was watered down from its HBO [cable] version.
Not so, says Berman.
“The editing doesn’t take anything away from it,” he says. “And, in terms of numbers, you knew it was going to get off to a good start since it was promoted so heavily and it’s summer and there aren’t a lot of other options.
“My only concern is that TBS only has 91 episodes; they’re airing 10 episodes a week which, technically, is only nine weeks worth of shows,” Berman says.
“But I think it’s going to perform well all summer and then they’ll see what happens in the fall.
“Like all good comedies – ‘Friends‘ and ‘Seinfeld,’ for instance – this is the kind of show people will watch over and over.”