‘Rescue: HI-Surf’ Sets Sail With Strong Premiere Audience For Fox

Katie Campione
·2-min read

Rescue: HI-Surf is off to a strong start for Fox.

The lifeguard drama debuted to 4.7M viewers on Sunday night, according to live + same-day data from Nielsen.

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The premiere episode also managed a 1.1 rating among adults 18-49, which is quite impressive as scripted broadcast series rarely perform that well in same-day ratings anymore.

In fact, it was TV’s highest-rated fall drama debut in six years, since the CBS premiere of God Friended Me in September 2018. It’s also the first time a new fall drama and comedy from the same network have debuted as the week’s No. 1 show, alongside Universal Basic Guys.

The solid performance is thanks in part to a lead-in from an NFL doubleheader. The episode was part one of a special two-night premiere, which continues Monday night.

Co-produced by Warner Bros. Television and Fox Entertainment Studios, Rescue HI-Surf is an action-packed drama that follows the personal and professional lives of the heavy-water lifeguards who patrol and protect the North Shore of O’ahu — the most famous and dangerous stretch of coastline in the world. Each episode will feature these adrenaline-seeking first-responders saving lives in the difficult and often life-threatening conditions of Hawaii’s Seven Mile Miracle.

The series stars Robbie Magasiva, Arielle Kebbel, Adam Demos, Kekoa Kekumano, Alex Aiono and Zoe Cipres. Sea Shimooka, Shawn Hatosy and Ian Anthony Dale are recurring.

Matt Kester created the series and serves as showrunner/executive producer. John Wells executive produces through John Wells Productions along with JWP’s Erin Jontow. Daniele Nathanson also serves as an executive producer.  Wells directed the series’ first two episodes.

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