Why is “Big Sky” still on the air? I don’t know.

Last night’s violent episode scored the show’s lowest ratings ever, down to 2,68 million viewers. That’s down 9.76% from the previous episode, which itself was down 13% from the episode before.

This was the show heavily promoted as a vehicle for Ryan Phillippe, who was then shockingly killed off in the first episode. Later in the run, the show’s other known actor, John Carroll Lynch, whose character was evil and violent against women, was killed by Brooke Smith, herself a passing through actor. Smith, who’s always terrific, was long ago in “Silence of the Lambs.” She’s gone but Ted Levine, who held her in that pit, is now playing a character called Horst Kleinsasser. I kid you not. Indeed, a whole new group of characters seem to be on now, and they are cast badly, and written worse.

“Big Sky” comes off like a bad version of “Twin Peaks,” except without the humor, wit, or irony. Women are killed and/or tortured on screen, graphically, and there’s no reason for it.

With these ratings, “Big Sky” is headed for the big round up of TV shows in the sky. It’s a rare misfire from David E, Kelley, who created it and should never mention it again.

If you’re following our story, Justin Hartley jumped from “The Young and the Restless” to “This is Us” five years ago. He plays Kevin, the actor son of Mandy Moore and Milo Ventimiglia. No one could have seen him holding his own in scenes with Sterling K. Brown, but he has,

Now the NBC nighttime soap and cry fest is aiming for its final season so the actors are starting to look for more work. Brown is going to get an Oscar, I guarantee you. With the right material, he’s the equivalent of Viola Davis.

Hartley is taking on an independent film called “A Whole Lot of Nothing.” It comes from first time director Mo McRae, an actor who’s making his debut. The cast is all unknown to us:  Y’lan Noel, Shamier Anderson, Lex Scott Davis, and Cleopatra Coleman.

We’ll see this one day at a film festival. Hartley also has an untitled Netflix film in the works with two of our favorite people: Bonnie Bedelia and Treat Williams, directed by Charles Shyer. Bedelia– who is btw Macaulay Culkin’s aunt– has a stellar career resume with a Golden Globe nomination for a terrific film called “Heart Like a Wheel.” I always thought she had an Oscar nomination, too. She should have. And Treat Williams has a load of great credits, three Globe nominations and of course– going way back– “Smooth Talk” with Laura Dern.

Either way you look at it, Kate Winslet’s “Mare of Easttown” on HBO is turning into a massive hit.

I’d say a watercooler hit, but no one’s in their office. Nevertheless, the murder mystery is following “The Undoing” recipe with everyone trying to figure out whodunit.

Sunday’s episode increased 28% on HBO from Week 1, and 25% across all HBO platforms including HBO Max.

On HBO alone, the number grew from 600,000 the first week to 735,000 the second. Now during the week there will be catch up viewing leading to week 3. With other platforms, the number was 1.2 million up from 1 million total.

And that’s pretty good considering “Mare” was up against the Oscars, same audience, you’d think.

All this points to a big conclusion on May 30th, with the seventh and final episode. The eighth episode will be the Emmy Awards on September 19th, when Winslet and crew sweep through their categories. HBO has really figured out this limited series thing.

Well played, HBO!

Oh who did it? PS I think Guy Pearce. But we’ll see…

Syndication ratings are in for two weeks ago, and they weren’t good for Aaron Rodgers.

The Green Bay quarterback didn’t complete his passes as “Jeopardy!” fell in his second week to 5.5 million, down from 5.6 in his first week.

“Jeopardy!” has lost 500,000 viewers since Ken Jennings exited many weeks ago.

Meanwhile, Ellen DeGeneres stayed below 1 million viewers, at 900,000. Ellen’s show is stuck in a downward spiral as she heads inti May sweeps and the end of her season.

But the top syndicated shows are off, too. Both “Live with Kelly and Ryan” and “Dr.Phil” were at 1.7 million, off by two or three hundred thousand viewers. Maybe everyone is just worn out. Only Tamron Hall was up, 14%, for her 300th episode. Congrats!