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With all due respect to “America’s Got Talent,” summer is not exactly the time when Nielsen ratings threaten to fall off the charts — at least, not the top of the charts. And when it comes to new series, a summer slot isn’t generally a vote of confidence from the network.

Due to coronavirus-forced production shutdowns, Summer 2020 has been an especially soft season. Click through our gallery to see how 18 freshman broadcast television shows — some acquisitions — fared in total viewers for their premieres this summer.

ABC/Fox/CBS/The CW

  • Rank:  18       Show: “Taskmaster”*        Net: The CW          Total Viewers: 212,000

    *Network debut of U.K. series

    The CW

  • Rank:  17       Show: “Being Reuben”*        Net: The CW          Total Viewers: 242,000    *Network debut of U.K. series

    The CW

  • Rank:  16       Show: “Fridge Wars”*       Net: The CW         Total Viewers: 398,000

    *Network debut of Canadian series

    The CW

  • Rank:  15       Show: “Tell Me a Story”*        Net: The CW          Total Viewers: 434,000

    *Network debut of CBS All Access series

    CBS All Access

  • Rank:  14       Show: “Killer Camp”*        Net: The CW          Total Viewers: 483,000

    *Network debut of U.K. series

    The CW

  • Rank:  13       Show: “Dead Pixels”*        Net: The CW          Total Viewers: 506,000

    *Network debut of U.K. series

    The CW

  • Rank:  12       Show: “Coroner”*        Net: The CW          Total Viewers: 715,000

    *Network debut of Canadian series

    The CW

  • Rank:  11      Show: “Labor of Love”      Net:  Fox         Total Viewers: 891,000

    Fox

  • Rank:  10      Show: “DC’s Stargirl”*          Net: The CW            Total Viewers: 1.224 million      *Network debut of DC Universe series

    The CW

  • Rank:  9      Show:  “Celebrity Watch Party”    Net: Fox         Total Viewers: 1.785 million

    Fox

  • Rank:  8     Show:   “The Bachelor: The Greatest Seasons – Ever!”      Net: ABC         Total Viewers: 2.412 million

    ABC

  • Rank:  7       Show: “Cannonball”*        Net: NBC         Total Viewers: 2.655

    *Network debut of USA Network series

    NBC

  • Rank:  6      Show:  “The Genetic Detective”      Net:    ABC        Total Viewers:  3.264 million

    ABC

  • Rank: 5        Show: “Tough as Nails”       Net: CBS       Total Viewers:    4.096 million

    CBS

  • Rank:  4     Show:  “Don’t”         Net: ABC            Total Viewers:  4.178 million

    ABC

  • Rank: 3        Show: “United We Fall”       Net: ABC      Total Viewers:    4.235 million

    ABC

  • Rank: 2        Show: “Ultimate Tag”       Net: Fox       Total Viewers:    4.351 million

    Fox

  • Rank:  1       Show: “Game On!”        Net: CBS          Total Viewers: 4.437 million

    CBS

    • Nielsen sheets cooled off as the months warmed up

    With all due respect to “America’s Got Talent,” summer is not exactly the time when Nielsen ratings threaten to fall off the charts — at least, not the top of the charts. And when it comes to new series, a summer slot isn’t generally a vote of confidence from the network.

    Due to coronavirus-forced production shutdowns, Summer 2020 has been an especially soft season. Click through our gallery to see how 18 freshman broadcast television shows — some acquisitions — fared in total viewers for their premieres this summer.

    Tony Maglio