Yellowstone & Tulsa King: The Unwoke, Unbothered and Unapologetic Kings of TV

For the past couple of seasons, Yellowstone has generated more viewers than any other show on television. Meanwhile, the series premiere of Tulsa King brought in an audience of nearly 4 million, better than any debut on TV (including the HBO epic House of the Dragon ).

So, what is defining Yellowstone and Tulsa King as the unwoke, unbothered, and unapologetic kings of TV?

For starters, it doesn't hurt to have Hollywood mega-stars like Kevin Costner and Sylvester Stallone leading the cast. Then, there is Taylor Sheridan – who created each hit series – and draws a rapid following. Still, viewership is the primary metric that allows TV executives to analyze and compare TV shows side-by-side. And, it's clear, the numbers do not lie.

Season five of Yellowstone has brought in almost 16 million viewers while Tulsa King has already been picked up for a second season following its record-setting debut. Compare those numbers to what House of the Dragon and Succession generate and it's obvious which shows dominate in popularity, even if Yellowstone is blatantly ignored come award season.

Could it be that even though the series is good, it just isn't woke enough for critics?

Of course, this point of view ignites plenty of criticism. For shows like Yellowstone and Tulsa King, it seems you either love it or hate it. After all, Sheridan is a polarizing figure that never shies away from controversy. House of the Dragon may have the prestige, but when it comes to performance, no one can chase the numbers Sheridan shows generate, particularly Yellowstone.

Then, there is the new Tulsa King that factors into the equation. The show is off to a roaring success after beating debuts this year from the likes of The Rings of Power and Dahmer. It doesn't hurt that the show is led by the seasoned Stallone, who actually makes his TV debut in Tulsa King.

According to Stallone, he always wanted to be a gangster after he was refused a part in The Godfather, decades ago. The 76-year-old actor revealed in an interview that he has some history with Paramount after campaigning to be put into The Godfather as an extra in the famous wedding scene. Unfortunately, director Francis Ford Coppola did not honor the request yet Stallone would eventually find himself portraying the role of an infamous mobster.

Now, a half-century later, Sylvester Stallone is finally getting his chance to shine on TV. And, if the early numbers are any forecast, Stallone isn't going anywhere. Tulsa King is off to a roaring start and it doesn't hurt that the actor finds much inspiration from the character Dwight Manfredi. "I'm gonna play him as close to myself as I've ever done in my life," Stallone dished.

Sure, it's a little ironic that Paramount waited decades to finally cast Stallone in a mob role. Nonetheless, he's due and – if the season one debut was any indication – Tulsa King is here to stay along with other Sheridan stables like Yellowstone.