Sharknado Update: Ratings Disappoint, Schedule, Cast and Twitter Reaction?

Sharknado, one of Syfy's latest and most talked about original movies, bolstered a storm of Twitter reaction that did not reflect the lackluster viewership when it first aired Thursday night. Entertainment Weekly reports that only 1.4 million viewers tuned in to the movie when it aired, yet Twitter reported 387,000 total tweets mentioned Sharknado; bringing the film's Twitter mentions only 2,500 tweets short of the socially controversial Game of Thrones "Red Wedding" episode. Celebrities like Mia Farrow, Elizabeth Banks and B.J. Novak also live-tweeted during the film according to USAToday.com and Syfy because of the "enormous popular demand," on twitter has scheduled an encore airing for Thursday at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

It is clear that Sharknado is on path to be this year's Summer cult movie with the estimated $1 million budget IMDB.com is reporting.  IMDB.com also reports that Sharknado writer Thunder Levin is credited for writing and directing the movie, AE: Apocalypse Earth and writing, directing, and producing the movie, Mutant Vampire Zombies from the 'Hood.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Sharknado actress Cassie Scerbro states, "We clearly signed on to this knowing this wasn't a serious, serious film." With sharks being catapulted through a metropolitan setting like Los Angeles and a lead cast that includes Tara Reid, how could anyone take this new twist on climate change seriously?

The Twitter reaction for Sharknado inspired hilarious live-tweeting and scientific debate.  I09.com reports that AccuWeather made it a point to share the disappointing news that an actual tornado of sharks is highly improbable stating:

"A tornado would not have the ability to sweep up marine life. Traditionally, a tornado is formed over land where a similar formation over water would be known as a waterspout. Understandably, "Shark-Spout" doesn't have quite the same ring to it.

Greg Skomal, a Shark Specialist at the Massachusetts Marine Fisheries, also shoots down the "Sharknado" plot by explaining that: "The concept that sharks cannot only survive being swept up in a tornado but also attack humans is absurd.""