Why Low-Rated Summer Shows Are Still Landing Early Renewals

Linear ratings only part of story for UnReal, Mr. Robot

At first glance, the debut ratings for Lifetime's big summer gamble, new drama UnReal, seemed as disastrous as the on-camera escapades in the series' faux-Bachelor show, Everlasting. UnReal's June 1 debut ratings—it drew just 587,000 adults ages 18 to 49 in live-plus-three, a 43 percent drop from its Devious Maids lead-in, and 1.15 million total viewers, which was 48 percent below Maids—were variously described as "UnGood," "low" and "lackluster."

Yet, on Monday, Lifetime announced that the critically acclaimed series—yes, it's one of the summer's best shows—had scored a surprise Season 2 renewal.

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