Originally posted Friday, October 5, 2018 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
Following the path of “Halt and Catch Fire,” AMC has renewed “Lodge 49” despite modest ratings.
The sweet drama about a surfer (played by Wyatt Russell, Kurt's son) who discovers an aging fraternal lodge with mystical powers is shot largely in metro Atlanta. It has averaged about 800,000 viewers, counting three days of DVR usage.
Its ratings are comparable to that of “Halt and Catch Fire,” which lasted four seasons and was also shot in Atlanta. In fact, “Lodge 49” uses the same studio space and many of the same crew members.
And like “Halt and Catch Fire,” AMC executives clearly like the show, gauged its fan base and embraced the fact critics enjoy it as well even if it’s not a broad-based hit.
"'Lodge 49' tells a funny, wise and meaningful story that immediately and deeply resonated with critics and viewers alike," said David Madden, president, programming, AMC, SundanceTV, and AMC Studios in a press release.
"'Lodge 49' is a joy to make," said co-creator Peter Ocko. "Its passionate audience seems to have caught on that there's nothing else like it on TV."
The 10-episode season one finale airs October 8.
Ten more episodes will air in 2019, AMC said.
In comparison, AMC’s biggest show “The Walking Dead” draws about 15 times more viewers any given week. That show returns on Sunday night for season nine.
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