TV viewers tuned in in large numbers to see the first episode of Falling Skies on TNT. The alien invasion series, executive produced by Steven Spielberg, attracted the biggest audience for a cable series debuting in 2011. 5.9 million TV sets were tuned in to catch Noah Wyle leading a group of survivors who fight back against the aliens.
“The enormous success of Falling Skies demonstrates what can happen when you partner with the best people in the business and give them what they need to do their very best work,” stated Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). “TNT’s Falling Skies is an exciting, fascinating and often moving story made possible through the magic of DreamWorks Television, an incredibly talented cast led by Noah Wyle and the vision of one of the greatest storytellers of our time, Steven Spielberg.”
According to TNT, Falling Skies‘ debut outperformed last year’s debut of USA’s Covert Affairs (4.9 million viewers – July 13, 2010) and AMC’s The Walking Dead (5.3 million – Oct. 31, 2010).
The Plot: Falling Skies takes place in the chaotic aftermath of an alien attack that has left most of the world completely incapacitated. Tom Mason (Wyle), a Boston history professor and the father of three sons, must put his extensive knowledge of military history to the test as second in command of a regiment of resistance fighters protecting a large group of civilian survivors.
