“George & Tammy” draws 3.3 million L+SD viewers for Showtime premiere and simulcast

george and tammy, starring Jessica Chastain and Michael Shannon, premiered Sunday to 3.3 million live and same-day linear viewers on Showtime, Paramount Network and CMT. Originally produced for Spectrum Originals with a second window to Paramount Network and Paramount+, the musical drama was recently picked up by Showtime after Spectrum dropped out of the original series.

MTV Entertainment Studios, which produces the show, called it the most-watched premiere in Showtime’s nearly 50-year history, but that was based on combined pay cable network viewers and simulcasting on the two basic cable networks. It does not provide viewership numbers on Showtime alone, which would be similar to previous premieres.

Future episodes will air exclusively on Showtime On-Air, On-Demand and Streaming.

George and Tammy tells the story of country music power couple Tammy Wynette and George Jones, whose complicated but enduring relationship inspired some of the most iconic music of all time. The series is produced by MTV Entertainment Studios, 101 Studios, Freckle Films, Mad Chance, Brolin Productions, Aunt Sylvia’s Moving Picture Co. and Blank Films Inc. Abe Sylvia serves as creator and executive producer alongside executive producers Andrew Lazar, Josh Brolin, Chastain and Kelly Carmichael. David C. Glasser, David Hutkin and Bob Yari are executive producers of 101 Studios. John Hillcoat serves as director and executive producer. The series is based on the book The Three of Us: Growing Up with Tammy and George, written by the couple’s daughter, Georgette Jones.

“George and Tammy made history as the most-watched Showtime premiere of all time, thanks to compelling performances by Jessica Chastain and Michael Shannon,” said Chris McCarthy, President/CEO of Showtime & Paramount Media Networks. “The compelling and complex story of the king and queen of country music is a testament to the creative firepower of Abe Sylvia and our incredible partners at Freckle Films and 101 Studios, led by David Glasser.”