The new TLC series, LA Ink, premiered last Tuesday, averaging 2.9 million total viewers at the 10pm timeslot. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the number makes the show the most-watched series debut for the cable channel since the premiere of What Not to Wear in January 2003.
The premiere of LA Ink also did better than several recent TLC series premieres, including May’s Big Medicine, June’s I’ve Got Nothing to Wear, and July’s Hard Shine and Diagnosis X.
The show, which stars tattoo artist Kat Von D, her staff and A-list clientele, is also the highest-rated series premiere in the history of TLC among adults 18-34, with a rating of 2.6 and a viewer count of 1.5 million. The premiere was also the highest-rated basic cable primetime program last Tuesday among several major adult demographics, including 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54.
Due in part to LA Ink, TLC topped other basic cable networks in primetime last Tuesday, winning the 18-34 and 18-49 demographics, and outperformed major broadcast networks, including ABC, CBS and NBC, in the 19-34 demographic.
Tonight’s episode of LA Ink will feature daredevil performer and television personality, Steve-O (Jackass). Other celebrities that are expected to make an appearance in the reality series are actor Jesse Metcalfe (Desperate Housewives), rapper Eve and Anthrax’s rhythm guitarist Scott Ian.
LA Ink, executive-produced by TLC’s Pamela Deutsch and Original Media’s Charlie Corwin, is the spin-off Miami Ink, wherein Kat Von D previously starred. After a series of fights with tattoo artist, Ami James, Von D moved back to Los Angeles and opened her own tattoo parlor. The shop, High Voltage Tattoo, is the center of the new reality series.
Apart from Kat Von D, other tattoo artists being featured in LA Ink are Corey Miller, Hannah Aitchison and Kim Saigh. Von D’s friend, Pixie Acia, manages the tattoo shop and also appears in the series.
New episodes of LA Ink will air until October 30. The series airs every Tuesday night at 10pm on TLC.
-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
(Image Courtesy of Reality Ink)
Staff Columnist, BuddyTV
