WGN America 'Underground' Premiere Ratings: Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Aldis Hodge Break Records!

WGN America recently aired the highly anticipated premiere of their original pilot, Underground. Episode 1, starring Noah (Aldis Hodge)and Rosalee (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), broke records and became the most-watched program in 18 Years on WGN America.

As we previously mentioned, the period drama takes place in the antebellum South as a band of plantation slaves attempt to make a perilous escape. During this time period, the slaves at the plantation risk everything for a chance at freedom. They all want to head on over to the North and escape to the Underground Railroad. Underground will also examine the lives of slaveholders, slave hunters, and abolitionists.

In our recent recap, Noah discovered a map that could lead to the North. Even though he has a team of slaves aching to be free and ready to run, Noah has to reluctantly work with Cato (Alano Miller), who could ruin the plan at any moment. Help though may come along the way from abolitionist lawyer John Hawkes (Marc Blucas) and his wife, Elizabeth (Jessica De Gouw).

According to Deadline, the opening night had risen up to 3.5 million total viewers and 1.5M adults 25-54. Underground became the highest rated original scripted program in the network's history. The The first airing drew 1.4M total viewers to the show rank number five among all scripted series premieres on cable this broadcast TV season.

In his statement, Matt Cherniss, president and general manager, WGN America and Tribune Studios adds, ""We couldn't be happier with the outstanding performance of 'Underground,' but the overwhelmingly positive response of the audience to this story about the unsung American heroes of the Underground Railroad is even more gratifying,"

In our MStars News interview, co-creator Joe Pokaski discussed the show's themes, "Imagine you are a slave, and you're being told someone owns you and you're not a real person. And you get it in your head, despite what society tells you, "I'm free and I'm destined to be free. And all I have to do is run 600 miles in inhospitable terrain, against people who are being paid to bring you back. And if I make it across the finish line, I'm a free man." I can't think of a more amazing story to be told. And this actually happened. This actually happened in our history. We haven't told that story. That's what attracted me to it. "

Underground continues on WGN America Wednesdays at 10pm.

Readers, what did you think of the pilot?