[1]NASHVILLE (BP) — History Channel’s “The Bible” miniseries concludes Easter Sunday, having grabbed the attention of Hollywood with huge ratings.
In its first four weeks, The Bible has finished the week either No. 1 or 2 among cable programs. It debuted with about 13 million viewers and has seen just over 10 million viewers watch it each week since.
The final episode in the five-part series will focus on Jesus’ death and resurrection.
“Those are the kinds of numbers that get TV executives’ attention, and ‘attention’ in the TV business means copying,” Time’s James Poniewozik wrote after the debut episode. “Last year, History pulled meganumbers with Hatfields and McCoys; now NBC is developing a Hatfields and McCoys series. So I wouldn’t be surprised to see more religious epics coming to TV — stories aimed, like The Bible miniseries, at the comfort zone of believers.”
Two professing Christians, Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, are the executive producers. Downey also plays Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Downey told the radio program “For Faith & Family” that the “intention of making this series was to glorify God.”
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Compiled by Michael Foust, associate editor of Baptist Press. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress [2]), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress [3]) and in your email ( baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp [4]).
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