Last night’s fifth season premiere of Dexter attracted a solid 1.77 million viewers, up 16 percent over last year’s debut. It ranked as Showtime’s best season opener in 15 years. As impressive as that is, that number fell far short of the record 2.6 million who watched the season 4 finale last December.
Sep 27
2010
03:22 PM ET
This Just In: 'Dexter' draws killer ratings
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James Hibberd
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TV Finale Highlights
Five days at a glance*
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Tuesday, May 1
- The Biggest Loser NBC, 8-9PM
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Friday, May 4
- In Plain Sight USA, 10-11PM
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Sunday, May 6
- The Amazing Race CBS, 8-10PM
- GCB NBC, 10-11PM
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Monday, May 7
- Two Broke Girls CBS, 8-9PM
- Castle ABC, 10-11PM
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Tuesday, May 8
- Last Man Standing ABC, 8-8:30PM
- The Voice NBC, 8-10PM
- New Girl FOX, 9-9:31PM
- Unforgettable CBS, 10-11PM
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Wednesday, May 9
- CSI CBS, 10-11PM
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Thursday, May 10
- The Big Bang Theory CBS, 8-8:31PM
- The Vampire Diaries The CW, 8-9PM
- The Office NBC, 9-9:30PM
- The Secret Circle The CW, 9-10PM
- Parks and Recreation NBC, 9:30-10PM
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Friday, May 11
- The Finder FOX, 8-9PM
- Undercover Boss CBS, 8-9PM
- Fringe FOX, 9-10PM
- CSI: NY CBS, 9-10PM
- Blue Bloods CBS, 10-11PM
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Sunday, May 13
- Once Upon A Time ABC, 8-9PM
- Survivor: One World CBS, 8-10PM
- Desperate Housewives ABC, 9-11PM, SERIES FINALE
- American Dad FOX, 9:30-10PM
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Monday, May 14
- Bones FOX, 8-9PM
- How I Met Your Mother CBS, 8-9PM
- Gossip Girl The CW, 8-9PM
- Two and a Half Men CBS, 9-9:30PM
- Hart of Dixie The CW, 9-10PM
- Mike & Molly CBS, 9:30-10PM
- Hawaii Five-0 CBS, 10-11PM
- Smash NBC, 10-11PM
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Tuesday, May 15
- 90210 The CW, 8-9PM
- Cougar Town ABC, 8-9PM
- NCIS CBS, 8-9PM
- NCIS: Los Angeles CBS, 9-11PM
- Fashion Star NBC, 10-11PM
- Private Practice ABC, 10-11PM
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Wednesday, May 16
- Suburgatory ABC, 8:30-9PM
- Criminal Minds CBS, 9-11PM
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Thursday, May 17
- Missing ABC, 8-9PM
- Community NBC, 8-8:30PM, 9-10PM
- 30 Rock NBC, 8:30-9PM
- Rules of Engagement CBS, 8:30-9PM
- Awake NBC, 9-11PM
- Grey's Anatomy ABC, 9-10PM
- Person of Interest CBS, 9-10PM
- The Mentalist CBS, 10-11PM
- Scandal ABC, 10-11PM
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Friday, May 18
- Nikita The CW, 8-9PM
- Shark Tank ABC, 8-9PM
- Who Do You Think You Are NBC, 8-9PM
- Grimm NBC, 9-10PM
- Supernatural The CW, 9-10PM
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Saturday, May 19
- Saturday Night Live NBC, 11:29PM-1AM
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Sunday, May 20
- America's Funniest Home Videos ABC, 7-8PM
- The Cleveland Show FOX, 7:30-8PM
- Harry's Law NBC, 8-9PM
- The Simpsons FOX, 8-8:30PM
- Bob's Burgers FOX, 8:30-9PM
- Celebrity Apprentice NBC, 9-11PM
- Family Guy FOX, 9-10PM
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Monday, May 21
- Dancing With the Stars (Performance) ABC, 8-9PM
- House FOX, 8-10PM, SERIES FINALE
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Tuesday, May 22
- American Idol (Performance) FOX, 8-9PM
- Dancing With the Stars (Results) ABC, 9-11PM
- Glee FOX, 9-10PM
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Wednesday, May 23
- The Middle ABC, 8-8:30PM
- American Idol (Results) FOX, 8-10:07PM
- Modern Family ABC, 9-9:30PM
- Don't Trust the B— ABC, 9:30-10PM
- Revenge ABC, 10-11PM
- Law & Order: SVU NBC, 10-11PM
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Thursday, May 24
- Awake NBC, 10-11PM
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Tuesday, May 29
- Cougar Town ABC, 8-9PM
- The L.A. Complex The CW, 9-10PM
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Wednesday, May 30
- America's Next Top Model: British Invasion The CW, 9-10PM
*Times are Eastern Daylight and subject to change
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Do they have a way to judge who DVR’s TV shows? I never watch shows live, I always record and watch later.
I think it takes a few weeks for the DVR stats to come in. I don’t know how long they can keep depending on these live viewer stats, since more and more people are recording the shows to watch later without commercials.
it’s different for pay cable though since there are no commercials.
@Breckster – just because there’s no commercials, doesn’t mean someone doesn’t watch it on their DVR. I had a conflict so I couldn’t be home right @ 8CST to watch. I started it about 8:30 on the DVR. It’s just that much more convenient that I don’t have to fast forward through commercials.
I DVRed it myself last night and watched it this morning. How about then it’s available on “On Demand” the next day? They should really count the ratings based on the first 24 hrs of the show’s airing, not just live.
The 1.77 are from the first showing; I follow somebody from Showtime’s twitter and she said that it had 2.3 million from the original showing and the repeat (the best season premiere in 15 y ears for their network). I think they’ll add in DVR later, as well.
I DVR everything and plan it ahead 10 days before. I don’t like to watch commercials. and usually I like to stop it when I fel like, so I never watch anything LIVE anymore.
Besides DVR’s many who can’t watch on Sunday wait for it to come On Demand. Best show on TV!
Maybe some people are still traumatized by the season finale!
I loved last night’s episode and I’m excited to see what the new season brings!
Yes, I know I’m definately still traumatized by the finale! I love this show, but man, was that hard to stomach.
That’s it for sure. My sister was a Dexter devotee but was so upset by how Rita was dispatched, she will not watch anymore. And she’s not alone apparently. I recall some of the comments from viewers who were very upset – on this very site. No surprise viewership is down.
Absolutely the best drama on television!
Hells Yeah!
What’s impressive is that the show is still generating great buzz even after 4 seasons. All 4 seasons were terrific, only a few TV series could make that claim thanks to clever writing, an excellent cast and great direction.
And, I would argue another TV show you could say that about was Michael C. Hall’s previous endeavor, Six Feet Under. The shows are different, but as far as overall consistent quality over years is concerned, those two always spring to my mind. So many shows hit or miss with seasons, including my favorite show of all time, but these two have managed to remain so consistently good, peaks without valleys.
Actually Season 3 was not that great and I was so looking forward to it because of Jimmy Smits. Huge disappointment. The writing for his character was terrible. He came across like an overly emotional, out-of-control Latino stereotype and certainly not as an attorney with a serious job and position.
This summer we watched Season’s 1 & 2 on Netflix and got the DVD’s for 3 & 4. Best series I’ve ever watched.
If I don’t have Showtime; do I have to wait til next spring for the Season 5 DVD or is there a streaming option available the day after broadcast. I REALLY hate to wait but I’m not going to pay $100 a month the reinstate cable.
the put the full episode up on youtube edited the foul language though it’s available on showtimes youtube page
Dexter is MY must see TV, and I, along with most posters, DVR’d it and watched it yesterday afternoon. I love Michael C. Hall’s portrayal of Dexter, but when Dexter (spoiler alert) killed that guy in the bathroom I was confused. I know the brutality came out of his anger that Trinity killed Rita, but I felt it was inogranic and just a plot device to “humanize” him. Dexter is only supposed to kill “killers” not A-holes.
Otherwise great episode.
one of the best shot and best written shows of all times.