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ESPN's "The Last Dance" documentary breaks viewership records

Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson. Photo: Jeff Haynes/AFP via Getty Images

ESPN's "The Last Dance" documentary on the Chicago Bulls’ 1998 NBA championship run averaged a record-breaking 6.1 million viewers on Sunday night, ESPN said Monday. The first two episodes of the 10-part series aired Sunday across ESPN and ESPN3.

Why it matters: The documentary marked the first time in nearly two months that individual families — and the sports world as a whole — sat down to watch something together.

Be smart: Before "The Last Dance," the highest live audience for a documentary premiere in recent history was "You Don't Know Bo," which received 3.6 million viewers on Dec. 8, 2012.

Top five:

  1. "Last Dance" Part 1: 6.3 million
  2. "Last Dance" Part 2: 5.8 million
  3. "You Don't Know Bo" 3.6 million
  4. "OJ: Made in America" Part 1: 3.4 million (on ABC)
  5. "Fab Five": 2.7 million

What's next: The remaining eight episodes of the 10-part series will air over the next four weeks (two episodes each Sunday).

Go deeper: "The Last Dance" becomes must-watch quarantine TV

Go deeper

Rebecca Falconer
Updated 2 hours ago - Health

California surpasses 50,000 COVID-19 deaths

A man prepares a funeral arrangement in in Los Angeles, California, Feb. 12. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images

California's death toll from COVID-19 surpassed 50,000 on Wednesday, per Johns Hopkins data.

The big picture: It's the first state to record more than 50,000 deaths from the coronavirus.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Sara Fischer, author of Media Trends
3 hours ago - Technology

Facebook bans Myanmar military

A protester holds a placard with a three-finger salute in front of a military tank parked aside the street in front of the Central Bank building during a demonstration in Yangon, Myanmar. Photo by Aung Kyaw Htet/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Facebook said on Wednesday it would ban the rest of the Myanmar military from its platform.

The big picture: It comes some three weeks after the military overthrew the civilian government in a coup and detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi, causing massive protests to erupt throughout the country. Military leaders have been using internet blackouts to try to maintain power in light of the coup.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Stef W. Kight, Will Chase
5 hours ago - Politics & Policy

It's harder to fill the Cabinet

Data: Chamberlain, 2020, "United States of America Cabinet Appointments Dataset" Chart: Will Chase/Axios

It's harder now for presidents to win Senate confirmation for their Cabinet picks, an Axios data analysis of votes for and against nominees found.

Why it matters: It's not just Neera Tanden. The trend is a product of growing polarization, rougher political discourse and slimming Senate majorities, experts say. It means some of the nation's most vital federal agencies go without a leader and the legislative authority that comes with one.

Go deeper (<1 min. read)Arrow