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In Awe of Michael Jordan's Staying Power

'The Last Dance' Premiere Sets ESPN Documentary Record With 6.1 Million Viewers

The first two episodes of The Last Dance averaged 6.1 million viewers on Sunday, marking the highest-rated documentary content in ESPN history, according to a network release.

The 10-part documentary detailing Michael Jordan and the 1990s Chicago Bulls began to air on Sunday night, with the first episode released at 9 p.m. ET. The first episode generated an average of 6.3 million viewers, and the figure dipped to 5.8 million viewers for the second episode. The pair of episodes mark the highest-rated ESPN telecast since the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship game. 

The Last Dance had been highly-anticipated prior to Sunday's debut, and the discussion of episodes 1 and 2 continued through Monday morning. Bulls forward Scottie Pippen took the spotlight in the second episode, and former Bulls general manager Jerry Krause was a notable figure throughout. 

Episodes 3 and 4 of The Last Dance will air on Sunday, beginning at 9 p.m. ET. 

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