History’s ‘Houdini’ Draws 3.7 Million Viewers

History’s two-part mini-series Houdini captured 3.7 million viewers last night, but could not escape the shadow of History’s previous blockbuster mini-series Hatfields & McCoys and The Bible.

Houdini, which stars Adrien Brody as master magician Harry Houdini and Kristen Connolly as his wife Bess, also drew 1.5 million adult 25-54 viewers and 1.2 million adults 18-49 in its Labor Day debut, according to History. 

 The series’ 3.7 million viewers is well below the 13.9 million viewers that Hatfields & McCoys generated in its May 2012 premiere and the 13.1 million viewers The Bible garnered in its March 2013 debut, according to Nielsen.

Part two of Houdini airs tonight on History.

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.