Tim Robinson’s new series, The Chair Company, has made a noteworthy impact since its debut, attracting a solid audience eager to delve into the quirky narrative following a workplace mishap. According to HBO, the show garnered 1.4 million viewers over its first three days, marking it as the network’s most successful comedy series premiere in over five years, following Avenue 5 in early 2020. Robinson, who co-created the series with his frequent collaborator Zach Kanin, portrays a character who finds himself tangled in a bizarre situation, piquing the interest of many viewers.
In conjunction with The Chair Company, HBO’s Sunday lead-in, Task, has also demonstrated impressive growth in viewership since its premiere on September 7. The show’s penultimate episode achieved 4 million cross-platform viewers within three days, representing a significant 32 percent increase from its initial audience of slightly more than 3 million, establishing it as a strong contender in HBO’s programming lineup.
Overall, Task has reportedly reached a cumulative audience of 10 million viewers over its run, averaging 6.7 million viewers across platforms—a number comparable to Brad Ingelsby’s previous hit series, Mare of Easttown, which similarly attracted 6.8 million viewers at a comparable point in its airing. Mare eventually captivated an impressive 13 million viewers per episode within HBO’s 90-day measurement frame.
Both The Chair Company and Task have primarily drawn viewership from streaming on HBO Max, consistent with the behavior of HBO’s audience. The Chair Company attracted only 124,000 viewers on-air for its debut, accounting for about 9 percent of its three-day total, while Task garnered 401,000 viewers on Sunday, which was approximately 10 percent of the episode’s total viewership. This trend highlights the continued shift towards streaming as a preferred viewing platform for HBO’s audience.
With both shows receiving critical acclaim and increasing audiences as they progress, they demonstrate the potential for further success within HBO’s renowned programming.