FX Chairman John Landgraf gave us the heads up during the network’s upfront on April 9, but “The Americans” has now been officially renewed for a 13-episode third season, said Nick Grad and Eric Schrier, presidents of original programming for FX Networks and FX Productions, on Wednesday.
“The Americans” has been slow to grab ratings, but critics immediately loved it. Last year, the Television Critics Association named it Outstanding New Program, as well as nominating it for six other awards. It also was named one of the programs of the year by the American Film Institute and it earned two Emmy nominations, four Broadcast Television Journalist Association nominations and a Writers Guild nomination for New Series.
This season, The Americans has averaged 3.08 million total viewers and 1.47 million viewers in adults 18-49, with both demos declining 9% and 14%, respectively, since the season premiere. The show airs on FX on Wednesday nights at 10 p.m. ET/PT, making it a prime candidate for time-shifted viewing. This season, that viewing has increased by 130% among adults 18-49 and 109% among total viewers, both representing gains over season one.
The show’s season-two finale airs May 21.
The Americans stars Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys Elizabeth and Philip, “illegals” or KGB spies who are embedded in American society. Noah Emmerich stars as their neighbor, coincidentally an FBI agent who is fervently chasing down illegals, without knowing who Philip and Elizabeth really are.
The series was created by and is executive produced by Joe Weisberg (Falling Skies), a former CIA agent who went on to become an accomplished author. Joel Fields and Graham Yost also executive produce, along with Amblin Television heads Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank. The Americans is produced by Fox Television Studios and FX Productions.
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