Posted on: Saturday, September 4, 2004

Police show has credible premiere

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser staff writer

"Hawaii," NBC's filmed-in-the-Islands police drama, did not create a ratings tsunami when it premiered Wednesday night to a national audience.

The show, starring an ensemble cast including Michael Biehn, Sharif Atkins, Eric Balfour, Ivan Sergei, Yuka Sumika and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, averaged a 3.3 rating and an 11 share in adults 18 to 49, attracting 10.91 million viewers in its time slot.

It fared better among adults 25 to 54, with a 4.3 rating and 13 share.

"Hawaii" tied Fox's reality series, "Renovate My Family," which had a two-hour episode, peaking at 8:30 p.m. with a 5.0 rating and 13 share among those 18 to 49 and a 20 share among women 18 to 34.

Variety called it "a credible start, but underwhelming" opposite lightweight competition.

Another Hawai'i-based series, A&E's "Dog the Bounty Hunter," with Duane "Dog" Chapman pursuing criminals, aired two back-to-back half-hour episodes in its debut Tuesday, averaging 3.2 million total viewers, making it one of the most-watched series in the cable network's 20-year history.

"Dog" lured 1.9 million adults 25 to 54, the network's core audience, and 1.8 million adults 18 to 49.

Reach Wayne Harada at 525-8067, fax 525-8055 or wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.