Yawning of the Age of Aquarius

TV1 is yanking HD drama Aquarius from primetime and replacing it with new SD episodes of Autopsy.

The rescheduling is effective from August 18, when the last four episodes will air 11pm Tuesday in the Perception slot; the latter will replace The Missing at midnight.

The only surprise about the move is why it’s taken so long given the dull David Duchovny drama has rated abysmally from the start.

Moreover, TV1 has worthier dramas in the wings that would have justified the drama’s slot, such as the eight-times Emmy-nominated American Crime.

TV3’s rejigging of Tuesday nights, with the return of Caught on Camera taking over the 9.30 slot next week, may have expedited Aquarius’ demotion off the back of this week’s dire ratings.

It averaged a shocking 0.0% of household shoppers with kids and only 0.7% – 1.0% of the other key demographics (18-39, 18-49, 25-54).

But that wasn’t the night’s only bombshell: TV2’s season finale of Empire also tanked, with only 2.9% – 5.0% of the key demos.

After dominating the 9.30 hour for weeks, it was beaten by TV1’s The Mentalist and an NCIS re-run on TV3 in the 25-54 demo and only won outright in the 18-39 race.

After struggling for weeks, The Mentalist scored a season high (2.4% – 6.1%), with viewership improving sharply after TV2’s My Kitchen Rules ended.

MKR’s ratings (8.1% – 13.7%) made Empire’s swansong even more dismal.