TV Land's "Hot in Cleveland" and "Happily Divorced" Premiere Night Sizzles With Over Four Million Total Viewers for Each Series

NEW YORK, June 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- 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.

"Hot in Cleveland" revolves around three fabulous best friends from LA – novelist Melanie Moretti (Valerie Bertinelli), eye-brow archer to the stars Joy Scroggs (Jane Leeves) and former soap star Victoria Chase (Wendie Malick) – who find their lives changed forever when their plane, headed for Paris, makes an unexpected landing.  When the friends discover that life is better in Cleveland, they decide to stay.  Starting over together, they rent a house that happens to come with a very opinionated caretaker, Elka Ostrovsky (Betty White).

TV Land recently renewed the series for a third season with a 24-episode order. "Hot in Cleveland" is filmed in front of a live studio audience and is executive produced by Emmy® Award-winner Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner of Hazy Mills Productions and is helmed by Emmy® Award-winning Suzanne Martin ("Frasier," "Ellen") serving as executive producer, show runner and writer.  Lynda Obst also serves as executive producer, and Larry W. Jones and Keith Cox are executive producers for TV Land.  "Hot in Cleveland" is currently seen around the world in over 165 countries.

Drescher, twice nominated for both Golden Globe® and Emmy® Awards and also a New York Times best-selling author of Enter Whining & Cancer Schmancer, is co-writer for "Happily Divorced" alongside her real life ex-husband, Peter Marc Jacobson.  Jacobson previously worked with Drescher as co-creator and writer on "The Nanny." He also served as co-executive producer of the popular series "What I Like About You."

"Happily Divorced" is filmed in front of a live studio audience and follows Los Angeles florist Fran (Drescher) whose 18-year marriage ends suddenly when her husband (Higgins) announces he's gay.  And if that weren't enough, he can't afford to move out.  They figured out how to be "Happily Divorced," but her being single and his being gay, while living under one roof, is a whole other story.  The series also features Fran's best friend Judi (Arnold), her parents Dori and Glen (Moreno and Walden) and her flower delivery employee Cesar (Rodriguez).

Fran Drescher and Peter Marc Jacobson are executive producers, and Larry W. Jones and Keith Cox serve as executive producers for TV Land.

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