‘Titan Games’ is a crowd-pleaser

Dwayne Johnson’s new show debuts with South Florida competitors.

Dwayne Johnson’s new physical competition show “The Titan Games’’ debuted with some ratings muscle.

The reality series drew 6.5 million total viewers in its debut Thursday , according to The Hollywood Reporter. The website also noted that the show delivered a strong “1.8 rating among adults 18-49” which is the demographic that advertisers seek to reach.

The show was also NBC’s “best non-sports performance in the 8-10 p.m. block since March 2, 2017,” according to the website.

“We’re off to a really good start,’’ Johnson shared on Twitter Sunday about the show’s ratings. “You also made us NBC’s highest rated show on Thursday night in almost two years. It’s pretty cool. We’re off to a good start.”

The show pits 64 male and female athletes in a series of strength and endurance challenges that were inspired by Johnson’s workouts such as vaulting from one platform to another and hammering a giant ram through a door.

Two South Floridians competed in the inaugural episode. They were Jupiter firefighter Julie Dudley, 50, and North Miami Beach truck driver James Jean-Louis, 29. Jean-Louis beat his competitor Thursday night and was named one of the show’s first two “Titans.”

Johnson, a former University of Miami football player, said he wanted to create a show for extraordinary everyday athletes.

The show airs 8 p.m. Thursdays.

COURTESY