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Friday, September 28, 2012

\'Honey Boo Boo\' Has the Ratings, if Not the Critics

By ADAM KEPLER

When TLC's reality series “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” made its debut in August, it was met with such derision by some television critics, that it seemed like the title should be changed to “Look Out! Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.”

But now, some two months later, it is clear that viewers would not heed such a warning.

According to Nielsen data, the series, which follows a 7-year-old beauty pageant queen, Alana Thompson, a k a Honey Boo Boo, and her family, has averaged 2.4 million total viewers. What's more impressive, however, is the show's performance among 18- to 49-year-olds, the demographic deemed most important by advertisers.

On Wednesday night, it was the highest-rated cable show in that category, easily beating out the No. 2-ranked show, the season premiere of “South Park” on Comedy Central. Such a feat was typical of “Honey Boo Boo's” eight-week run, when it either won or shared the top Wednesday cable ranking in that category six times. That included the Aug. 29 episode, which drew more adults between 18 and 49 than Fox News's coverage of the Republican National Convention, and the Sept. 5 episode, which tied CNN's coverage of the Democratic National Convention.

This week, TLC ordered more episodes of the series, as well as three holiday specials to air around Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's a move that will surely draw more ire from critics, and just as likely be welcomed by viewers, who have found that they cannot look away.



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