'Steel Magnolias' remake brings in huge ratings for Lifetime

theGRIO REPORT - The all-black cast remake of 'Steel Magnolias' is the third most-watched telecast ever for Lifetime...

Oct 9, 2012

The all-black cast remake of Steel Magnolias delivered huge ratings for Lifetime Sunday night. The remake of the 1989 classic film about six sassy female friends brought in an average of 6.5 million total viewers, making it the network’s third most-watched telecast ever. The network posted its best delivery since 2006’s Life is Not a Fairy Tale: The Fantasia Barrino Story.

Starring and executive produced by Queen Latifah and also starring Phylicia Rashad, Adepero Oduye, Condola Rashad with Jill Scott and Alfre Woodard, the Sony Pictures Television-produced film scored significantly well among women ages 25 to 54, bringing in 2.5 million viewers, the highest tally in Lifetime’s history.

The Saturday, October 6, world premiere of the Lifetime Original Movie Abducted: The Carlina White Story, starring KeKe Palmer, Sherri Shepherd and Aunjanue Ellis, also generated strong viewership, averaging 4.1 million total viewers..

“We couldn’t be happier with the great response Steel Magnolias and Abducted: The Carlina White Story received from viewers this weekend,” said Rob Sharenow, the executive vice president of programming for Lifetime Networks. “These incredible numbers speak to the powerful stories and performances delivered by amazing casts and the strong production teams behind each movie. We are very proud to have partnered with them on these very special films.”

Follow Chris Witherspoon on Twitter at @WitherspoonC