'Mega Python Vs. Gatoroid' devours 2.35 million total viewers

Continuing the franchise's sizzling ratings momentum, the Syfy Saturday Original Movie "Mega Python Vs. Gatoroid," which starred Debbie Gibson and Tiffany, consumed 2.35 million total viewers, 737,000 adults 18-49 and 866,000 adults 25-54, while averaging a 1.6 household rating during its premiere on Saturday, Jan. 29, at 9 p.m.

"Mega Python Vs. Gatoroid" surpassed the audiences for the previous Syfy Saturday Original flicks from Tiffany ("Mega Piranha," 2.16 million viewers in 2010) and Gibson ("Mega Shark Vs. Giant Octopus," 2.09 million viewers in 2009).

"Mega Python Vs. Gatoroid" was among numerous Syfy ratings successes during January. Led by the launches of the new hit series "Being Human" and "Face Off," along with rising viewership for "WWE Friday Night SmackDown" (which posted its two most watched episodes), Syfy delivered 204,000 adults 18-34 (+10 percent), 561,000 adults 18-49 (+3 percent) and 1.3 million total viewers (+6 percent) during prime vs. January 2010.

For six straight months (August-January), a Syfy Saturday Original Movie has broken the 2 million total viewers mark. On Jan. 15, "Behemoth" delivered 2.1 million total viewers, marking the first time since March 2009 ("Sea Beast"/2.2 million and "Polar Storm"/2.4 million) that both Saturday Original Movies in the same month surpassed 2 million total viewers.

A production of The Asylum, "Mega Python Vs. Gatoroid" explored the crisis in the Florida Everglades, where invasive Burmese pythons threatened the indigenous alligator population. Gibson portrayed a fanatical animal rights advocate who spends her evenings "liberating" illegally imported exotic snakes from pet stores and setting them free in the Everglades - where the pythons grow and thrive.

Tiffany played an over-zealous park ranger worried about the growing ecological damage. To save her beloved alligators, she was willing to employ dubious methods: overdosing them with steroids so they grew mega, and setting off a war between the species - and putting her on a collision course with Gibson.

Mary Lambert ("Pet Sematary") directed "Mega Python Vs. Gatoroid," marking the first time a woman has directed a Syfy Saturday Original Movie. The writer was Naomi Selfman ("Evil Eyes").

For more information, visit www.Syfy.com.