HBO has picked up the new original series, Tell Me You Love Me, for a second season, despite the show’s rocky start.
The relationship drama premiered with a mere viewer count of 910,000 early in September. The number proves dismal in comparison to nearly all of the pay cable network’s original programs in recent years. The least-watched episode of John from Cincinnati, a unique surf-noir drama that HBO declined to renew, actually drew in more viewers than Tell Me You Love Me‘s premiere.
Moreover, compared to the premieres of John from Cincinnati and another HBO original, Big Love, Tell Me You Love Me‘s debut viewer count is very small, although this due in part to the absence of a Sopranos lead-in.
On the other hand, the series has managed to retain the interest of television critics, while HBO reported it drew a total of 3.1 million viewers over seven broadcasts.
Created by Cynthia Mort, Tell Me You Love Me is a sex-laden drama that revolves around three couples, Jamie and Hugo (Michelle Borth and Luke Kirby), Katie and David (Ally Walker and Tim DeKay) and Carolyn and Palek (Sonya Walger and Adam Scott). Each couple has issues concerning intimacy in their relationships, which is why they enlist the help of therapist Dr. May Foster (Jane Alexander). May tries her best to guide the three couples while sorting out issues of her own with husband Arthur (David Selby).
In an effort to boost awareness around the show, HBO launched a multimedia marketing campaign late last month. The campaign features real-life couples talking about Tell Me You Love Me and their own relationship troubles. Segments can be viewed after each episode and online via iTunes and video-on-demand.
HBO has yet to provide details on when it will begin filming the new episodes or when they will air.
Catch Tell Me You Love Me every Sunday at 9pm.
-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Broadcasting & Cable
(Image Courtesy of HBO)
Staff Columnist, BuddyTV
