Showtime has renewed Ray Donovan for a second season.
The drama starring Liev Schreiber as a fixer to Hollywood's rich and famous premiered in June to record-breaking numbers and ranks as the cable network's highest-rated series debut ever. Since its bow, the series from Southland's Ann Biderman has only grown.
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In its second week, the series co-starring Jon Voight, improved 15 percent on its series launch, earning 2.2 million viewers for the night. Ray is the first freshman drama in the cable network's history to improve on its series premiere. In its third week, the series held steady with 2.2 million viewers. In a first, Showtime moved the final season of Dexter, one of its highest-rated properties, from its typical fall premiere to spring to help launch Ray.
"Ray Donovan is on track to be our biggest season one show ever," Showtime Entertainment president David Nevins said in a release announcing the pickup Tuesday. "Ann Biderman and the extraordinarily talented creative team, coupled with the brilliant ensemble cast led by Liev Schreiber, have produced one of the hottest new dramas of the year. We are proud and excited to pick up another season."
Ray, which marks as producer Mark Gordon's first premium cable show, is one of two new original dramas to launch on Showtime this year. The premium outlet will launch Masters of Sex, starring Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan, in the fall following the return of Emmy winner Homeland.
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