'Sarah Palin's Alaska' Premiere Draws 5 Million Viewers, Breaks TLC Records
The debut of 'Sarah Palin's Alaska' brought in huge numbers for TLC, making it the highest-rated series launch in the network's history.The first episode in the eight-part series was seen by 5 million viewers. According to Variety, the series brought in 1.6 million viewers in the 18-49 demographic, but mostly skewed older. Viewers over 35 -- 3.9 million of them -- accounted for the majority of the audience.
So, just who are these viewers?
A portion of the five million people who watched last night could've simply been curious about the first episode, gawkers wanting to get a little glimpse before moving on. Or maybe, just maybe, this is proof that more Republicans have Nielsen ratings boxes. The telling numbers will come from the second episode.
'Sarah Palin's Alaska' viewers could also be the same people who keep Bristol Palin on 'Dancing With the Stars.' While the eldest Palin daughter has improved throughout the dancing competition, she's only getting by thanks to viewer votes. She's the underdog, the everywoman doing an extraordinary thing -- if you can call competing on 'Dancing With the Stars' extraordinary.
Reviews of the series have called it everything from entertaining to an eight-hour campaign ad. TV Squad's Joel Keller called it "a boring reality show that's not spectacular enough as a nature show to make up the difference."
Tell us: Will you watch the second episode?

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