The series premiere of Paramount+'s Tulsa King has become the most-watched debut episode of a TV show in 2022, surpassing the previous record holder, HBO's House of the Dragon. The Sylvester Stallone-led series follows Dwight "The General" Manfredi, a Mafia member who, after 25 years in prison, is sent by his boss to Tulsa, Oklahoma in order to start up a new criminal enterprise. The series has been praised for Stallone's performance as Dwight, and was renewed for season 2.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Tulsa King's premiere viewership reflects its success, as the series has become the highest-rated cable TV premiere of 2022, besting House of the Dragon in that regard. When the series was given a special TV airing on Paramount Network, the first episode garnered 3.7 million viewers, delayed viewing included. While Tulsa King's premiere doesn't match up to House of the Dragon's 10 million viewers across both HBO channels and HBO Max for its premiere, the fact that it was able to outperform the popular fantasy series in terms of live cable viewers is still an applauding feat.

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How Tulsa King Topped House Of The Dragon Ratings

Rhaenyra with a look of pain and rage in House of the Dragon season 1

Even with House of the Dragon having its premiere episode available on HBO Max, it's not too surprising that Tulsa King was able to compete with the fantasy series. Part of the reason Tulsa King may have performed so well is because of the staying power of its star, Sylvester Stallone. From his roles as Rocky and Rambo in their respective film franchises to having starred in critically acclaimed films like Cop Land, Stallone is a major name in the entertainment industry. His portrayal of Dwight as he tries to build a criminal empire in Oklahoma is sure to be a massive draw for Stallone fans that want to see him play a Mafia capo.

Additionally, Tulsa King was created by Taylor Sheridan, a filmmaker who - alongside John Linson - created the popular Western drama series Yellowstone. Yellowstone is another audience darling from Paramount Network, chronicling the lives of the Dutton family led by John Dutton III, played by Kevin Costner. As the series progresses, the family comes into conflict with other factions in their area, such as a reservation and land developers. The show is currently the most popular cable television series airing in 2022, with Yellowstone's season 5 premiere garnering around 12 million viewers across all platforms. Because of Sheridan's proven talent in crafting engaging series for Paramount, it's no surprise that Tulsa King would share in some of that success.

Tulsa King also may have received a boost in viewership during its special premiere because it aired right after Yellowstone's season 5 premiere. Given Yellowstone's proven popularity and Sheridan's involvement in both series, it makes sense that Paramount would want to give Tulsa King as much recognition as they could by airing its first episode after an episode of their most popular show. The star power from Stallone, the filmmaking prowess from Sheridan, and the logistics of when the Tulsa King premiere aired indicate how the show's first episode was able to beat House of the Dragon's premiere ratings.

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Source: THR