The Netflix series “Lilyhammer” is taking home the gold — in Norway.
The rental service’s first foray into the original TV series market became a record-breaking hit when it premiered Wednesday night on the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK1).
Nearly one in five Norwegians tuned in to watch the Steven Van Zandt-led dramedy about a New York mobster-turned-FBI informant who is put in the witness protection program in Lillehammer, the small Norway town best known for hosting the 1994 Winter Olympics. (Van Zandt’s character, Frank Tagliano, pronounces it “Lilyhammer.”) The series, partially funded by Netflix, was filmed in Norway and features a mostly local cast.
“Lilyhammer’s” premiere represents the best-ever performance for a series on Norway’s public broadcasting channel, according to its Web site.
In the US, the eight-episode series will be available for streaming through Netflix beginning Feb. 6.
A second season has already been ordered.