'Homeland' opens well for Showtime

Showtime received strong traction with its series debut of "Homeland" Sunday night, drawing just over a million viewers for the drama's initial telecast. The 10 p.m. airing recorded the most auds for a drama premiere since 2003's "Dead Like Me." When totaling the midnight and 2 a.m. telecasts, as well as online sampling that the cabler made available via online On Demand, "Homeland" drew a combined 2.7 million. In comparison to recent Showtime preems, in April the debut of "The Borgias" garnered slightly less than "Homeland." "Shameless" drew 982,000 in its January debut. "Homeland," starring Claire Danes, Damien Lewis and Mandy Patinkin, centers on a released prisoner of war who may have turned against the United States. The strong start for the skein is a boon to Showtime president David Nevins, as "Homeland" is the first scripted series to be greenlit by him after arriving from Imagine Entertainment. Show is exec produced by Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon, Gideon Raff, Michael Cuesta, Abi Nir and Ran Tellem. In returning series, Showtime's top-rating "Dexter" scored a healthy 2.2 million viewers at 9 p.m. Sunday in its sixth season debut, serving as a healthy lead-in to "Homeland." That's best of any "Dexter" season premiere, including a 24% increase from season five. When adding the 11 p.m and 1 a.m. showings, "Dexter" drew 2.7 million viewers. Both "Dexter" and "Homeland" should see substantial viewer increases with additional telecasts during the week. Showtime has yet to renew a deal with "Dexter" star and exec producer Michael C. Hall, and this strong start may give him leverage with the net. His current pact has expired and the net is currently negotiating with him for future seasons. Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com

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