HOT IN CLEVELAND And HAPPILY DIVORCED Premiere Ratings

Summer officially began on TV Land with the premiere night of “Hot in Cleveland” and “Happily Divorced,” which drew over four million total viewers for each series (according to The Nielsen Company, L+SD).  Additionally, June 15 was the second highest day this year for TVLand.com, up more than 4x the 2011 average daily audience.

Starring Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves, Wendie Malick and Betty White, the “Hot in Cleveland” summer season premiere at 10 p.m. (all times ET/PT) attracted 2.4 million total viewers. When combined with its 11:30 p.m. and 1 a.m. encores, the series brought in 4.3 million total viewers to TV Land.

“Happily Divorced” drew in 2.4 million total viewers at 10:30 p.m. and when combined with its encores at 11 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. attracted 4.4 million total viewers.  Acclaimed actors John Michael Higgins (“Best in Show”), Tichina Arnold (“Everybody Hates Chris”), Rita Moreno (“OZ”), Robert Walden (“All The President’s Men”) and Valente Rodriguez (“George Lopez”) also star in the series which was inspired by Drescher’s real life story.

At 10 p.m., (all times ET/PT) “Hot in Cleveland” picked up right where the show left off in March: Elka had just been convicted of being in possession of stolen goods and is now on the run, while Melanie, Victoria and Joy are left wondering where she is.  Now, the women must scramble to find Elka and get her back in time for her sentencing, and they find her in the last place anyone would expect…Amish country.  “Happily Divorced” at 10:30 p.m. is co-written by and stars Fran Drescher (“The Nanny”) in a story inspired by her own life as Los Angeles florist Fran (Drescher) whose 18-year marriage ends suddenly when her husband (Higgins) announces he’s gay.

Wednesday night’s 10 p.m. summer season premiere of “Hot in Cleveland” posted a 0.9 among TV Land’s target Adults 25-54 audience and a 1.2 among Women 25-54. Following “Hot In Cleveland,” the Fran Drescher comedy “Happily Divorced” posted a 0.8 among A25-54 and a 1.2 among W25-54.