A&E NetworksLooks like the duck is cooked!
Duck Dynasty's season-five finale bowed Wednesday night, but despite the series' vocally devoted cult following, the smash reality show only brought in an audience of 6 million—the lowest-rated finale since the very first season.
These numbers are a considerable drop when compared to the 8.4 million viewers who tuned into the season-four ending last year, as well as the 9.6 million who watched the season-three capper in 2012. Overall, it's been a downward trend for season finales of the A&E hit.
Back in January, the Duck Dynasty season-five premiere had 8.5 million viewers, great for most shows on TV today, especially a cable show. However, its fourth season debut in August had 11.8 million viewers.
The fifth season of Duck Dynasty was the first full season since family patriarch Phil Robertson made anti-gay comments in an interview with GQ.
"Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men," Robertson told GQ in the December story. Paraphrasing Corinthians, he said, "Don't be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers—they won't inherit the kingdom of God. Don't deceive yourself. It's not right."
Following his statements, A&E suspended the reality star, but quickly lifted the suspension shortly after Christmas amidst fan protest and talk that the family would walk away from the popular reality show.
Why do you think Duck Dynasty is losing viewers? Do you think Phil Robertson's comments are to blame? Sound off in the comments below!