Javicia Leslie’s ‘Batwoman’ Debut Plummets 80% in Ratings From Ruby Rose’s

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https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/...160955662.html

Tony Maglio
Mon, January 18, 2021, 8:09 AM

Javicia Leslie debuted as the new caped crusader on The CW’s “Batwoman” last night, but her start didn’t shine nearly as bright (a Bat signal) as Ruby Rose’s. Sunday primetime was dominated by Fox’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints NFL Divisional Playoffs game, which ended just shy of 10 p.m. on the east coast. Due to the nature of live sports, the below Nielsen numbers for Fox should be considered subject to adjustment. Final numbers are expected later today. The new-look “Batwoman” managed just a 0.1 rating last night in the key demo and 663,000 total viewers. Back on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, Rose’s “Batwoman” debuted to a 0.5 rating and 1.8 million viewers — meaning last night’s Season 2 premiere was down 80% in the demo from the series debut. Also Read: What Is The CW's Highest-Rated Show? That 2019 broadcast had the advantage of being in the fall instead of the winter. And while it also went up against NFL competition, Rose’s “Batwoman” did not kick off against the playoffs. Back then, the series would decline pretty significantly among adults 18-49 in Week 2, when it got a 0.3 rating. The holiday weekend also didn’t help...

Don't blame Javicia Leslie for Batwoman's disappointing viewership

On Monday, The Wrap was criticized by some for comparing Leslie's debut with Ruby Rose's debut, with a since-deleted tweet saying that Leslie's debut "can't hold a candle to Ruby Rose's" and pointing out that Batwoman ratings plunged 80%. As Princess Weekes notes, "Batwoman’s first season had the new shiny allure of being a new show, but it was never a critical darling, getting slapped in the first season for bad acting and other things. So, to have the show go through the effort to actually hire an actress with range, and then putting all the pressure on that actress is a bit slimy, because Javicia Leslie is the one coming aboard a rocky ship."