That Was Fast! ‘Nurse Jackie’ Renewed for Season Two

Whoa! Let me check my neck to make sure I don’t have whiplash!

Less than one day — indeed, just hours — after the series premiere of its new Edie Falco original comedy Nurse Jackie, Showtime has announced a 13-episode Season Two pickup for the series. Now that, dear readers, is what you call a successful TV show, no matter what Nurse Jackie’s fate is from here on out.

The big renewal news was accompanied by the revelation that Nurse Jackie is Showtime’s most-watched series premiere in, like, ever. The pilot episode attracted more than 1 million eager viewers during the first showing at 10:30pm ET on June 8, and then another 350,000 folks tuned in for the encore later that night at 11:30pm.

Showtime’s previous record holder, the United Kingdom import Secret Diary of a Call Girl, lagged far behind, with just 950,000 viewers checking out its opening episode. And in case you’re wondering, the premium-cable network’s other huge comedy hit, Weeds, lured 1.68 million viewers to two broadcasts of its own fifth-season premiere yesterday, which made it Showtime’s most-watched series in 2009 as of now.

Two record-setters in a row ain’t bad at all. It seems the ladies rock big time on Showtime.

Nurse Jackie airs Mondays on Showtime at 10:30pm ET.