"Is the comeback of David Costabile as Daniel Hardman sufficient to rescue the 'Suits LA' spin-off?"
Rewritten Article:
Hey there! Here's a scoop on what's happenin' in TV-land with the Suits spinoff, Suits LA.
David Costabile, known for his recurring role as Daniel Hardman on the original Suits, is jumpin' back into the fictional Black Lane Law Firm scene in an upcoming episode. This makes him the fourth actor from Suits to grace the spinoff, following Gabriel Macht and Rick Hoffman. But, will it be enough to lift the struggling newbie on NBC?
According to Nielsen's Live+Same day ratings, the debut of Gabriel Macht on Suits LA last Sunday didn't exactly set the viewer charts on fire. Suits LA on March 16 managed to draw in a mere 1.59 million viewers during the 9 p.m. ET hour, lagging pretty far behind Watson on CBS (5.15 million) and the second hour of American Idol on ABC (4.60 million). Ouch, that's gotta hurt!
What's even more painful is the 57 percent drop in viewers from the lead-in, The Americas, and a 23 percent decline in the 9:30 p.m. ET half-hour (1.79 to 1.38 million).
In the demographics department, Suits LA scores an embarrassingly low 0.2 rating in key adults 18-49. And let's not forget—these results don't include delayed viewing yet.
Much like any spin-off series, the appearances of former cast members can sure grab some attention. But the long-term success depends on standin' on its own merits. Suits LA might need to exercise a whole lot of patience from NBC, as it appears the initial stunt casting didn't quite work out.
Over the week, NBC made some changes, shufflin' Grosse Pointe Garden Society, which airs after Suits LA, from Sunday 10 p.m. ET to Friday at 8 p.m. ET starting on April 4. Dateline will move into the Suits LA lead-out spot instead.
Now, let's talk a bit about stunt casting. According to our research, its impact on ratings isn't all that clear. The jury's still out on whether guest appearances by original Suits actors can make a significant difference. Critics are known to give mixed reviews to Suits LA, slammin' it for failin' to capture the magic of the original series[4]. So, any potential rating boosts due to stunt casting could be obscured by the overall reception of the show.
There ya have it! The future of Suits LA could rely less on stunt casting and more on the new cast's shoulder-carryin' abilities. Here's hopin' they've got what it takes to keep the show in the game!
- David Costabile, who previously portrayed Daniel Hardman on the original Suits, is set to rejoin the fictional Black Lane Law Firm in an upcoming Suits LA episode, further expanding the cast that already includes Gabriel Macht and Rick Hoffman.
- Although the debut of Gabriel Macht on Suits LA didn't fare well, attracting only 1.59 million viewers, NBC is placing hope in the newcomers' abilities to carry the show forward, as the ratings could potentially be influenced by the appearances of original Suits actors like David Costabile.
- As with any spin-off series, the long-term success of Suits LA depends on its capacity to stand on its own merits, but it remains uncertain whether celebrity guest appearances by actors like David Costabile will significantly impact the ratings, given the mixed reviews the show has received from critics.
