Riding flattering reviews, including one from The Hollywood Reporter, WGN America's Underground set network records with its Wednesday launch.

The latest original series nabbed 2.5 million viewers over the course of four plays. That bests previous premiere-night grosses of 1.9 million for the network's Outsiders and 2.3 million for Salem. Underground's time-slot premiere of 10 p.m. ET drew 1.4 million live-plus-same day viewers, making it cable's fifth-most-watched scripted premiere since the top of the broadcast season.

In the network's targeted adults 25-54 demographic, the show raked in nearly 1 million over the course of the night. Underground's live-plus-three day returns won't arrive until early next week, but the live sampling bodes well for the series.

Produced by Sony Pictures Television and Tribune Studios, Underground is the fourth original series to join the WGN roster. The network debuted Outsiders in January and debut original Salem in 2014. Manhattan, the network's second series, concluded with its sophomore run last year.