The mainstream media and much of what we see in our culture today would lead you to believe that most Americans have lost touch with religion, and that the Biblical principals that used to be so fundamental to the majority of people in our nation were long outdated. Don't tell that to the 13.1 million viewers on The Bible last Sunday on the History Channel.
Mark Burnett, who already has hits on each of the big networks five nights a week, created the show with his wife Roma Downey. Given their success in the business, they were surprised when they couldn't get anyone to pick up the series. They ended up going to the History Channel.
Pat points out that the History Channel audience isn't exactly huge, a big primetime show for them would be maybe two and a half million — maybe a little more for some of their more recent programming. For example, "Pawn Stars" got around seven million on it's biggest night.
"Here's what they did on Sunday night," Glenn started, "14.8 million viewers. To put that into perspective, that's "American Idol". That's a big night."
The American Idol finals, in it's BIG days, was pulling in around 20 or so million viewers.
"That's unbelievable," Pat said.
And Glenn believes they're just getting started with ratings like that. He has seen the next week episodes in advanced and explained to listeners that it only gets better.
"It is the best Bible thing I've ever seen. It covers the fiery furnace. It covers John the baptize. It covers Jesus going into the boat, and cast your net. It is -- you've never seen anything like that," he said.
Glenn predicted that by the time the series gets to the birth of Christ, they'll be in the range of 20 million viewers.
"It will have momentum because it gets better," Glenn stated. "Much better, and in the end, all of mark's shows have been number one. In the end more people will know him for this movie, this is Cecile B. De Mille's 10 Commandments. This is the landmark Bible movie. It is unbelievable by the time you get to the new testament it will leave you breathless. Breathless. The third episode will leave you breathless. So if you haven't watched it yet start, and tell everybody you know. This has a chance of being a part of that revival of the third great awakening."