With a shocking demise and a doorstep confession, the Season 3 and Season 1 finales of Homeland and Masters Of Sex , respectively, pulled in 2.4 million and 1.2 million viewers last night for Showtime. Up 12% from the Season 3 finale, last night was Homeland’s best result ever for an individual episode. The series, both of which were renewed in late October, had hit season highs with 2.1 million and 1.23 million viewers respectively with their December 8th shows last week. The series’ highest rated episode up until last night, Homeland’s Season 2 finale on December 16, 2012 at 10 PM had 2.3 million viewers with a total of 2.7 million watching over two plays. Overall, Homeland drew 2.9 million viewers over two plays on Sunday for the show’s best overall night ever as it ended what has been its highest rated season yet. With an average of 7 million viewers across all platforms and on DVR, this season of Homeland is the first Showtime series to hit that number. Last night’s finale was up 27% over the series’ Season 3 opener on September 29, which drew 1.9 million viewers and was up 9% from the Season 2 debut. Freshman Masters Of Sex premiered that same September night with 1 million viewers watching at 10 PM.

The debut of the Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplin starring show about Dr. William Masters and Virginia Johnson’s pioneering 1950s sex research tied the Season 1 October 2, 2011 premiere of Homeland as Showtime’s second-best series debut. Only Ray Donovan, which had the now departed Dexter as a lead-in, did better with 1.35 million on June 30 this year. Masters of Sex was up 21% last night over its premiere episode and had a total of 1.5 million viewers Sunday over two plays. Both Homeland and Masters Of Sex will return in fall 2014.

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