Thu Dec 25 19:30:00 UTC 2025: News Article:
Taylor Sheridan’s “Lioness” Success Highlights TV Dominance Beyond “Yellowstone”
Hollywood, CA – Taylor Sheridan, the mastermind behind the “Yellowstone” phenomenon, continues to solidify his position as one of the most valuable creators in television, with his success extending far beyond the Dutton Ranch. While “Yellowstone” concluded its run in December 2024 with a record-breaking season finale drawing 11.4 million viewers, it’s the performance of Sheridan’s other projects, particularly “Special Ops: Lioness,” that truly showcases his grip on the entertainment landscape.
Sheridan’s landmark $1 billion deal with NBCUniversal is built on a foundation of consistently delivering high-performing content. “Yellowstone,” even outpaced broadcast networks, but even his “modest” shows, like the spy thriller “Special Ops: Lioness,” outperform most creators’ best work. The show, starring Zoe Saldaña, centers on a group of female CIA operatives. Despite being considered Sheridan’s “least-streamed” show, “Lioness” still ranked among the top Paramount+ originals.
Season 5 Part 2 of Yellowstone was a hit, amassing 11.4 million viewers in its final episode. The second half of the season saw 575 million social media views and 22 million instances of engagement. Internationally, Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2 was Paramount+’s biggest launch ever.
“Lioness” Season 2, which debuted in October 2024, saw 3 million domestic households tune in during its first week, a 2% increase in reach compared to the first season. By the end of the year, it ranked among the top three Paramount+ originals, behind only “Landman” and “Tulsa King,” both also creations of Sheridan.
Critics and industry analysts alike point to Sheridan’s ability to consistently deliver engaging content across genres as a key factor in his sustained success. In 2025, this highlights the success of his less popular ones, and proves that there is no such thing as a small show in the Sheridan-verse—only different levels of dominance.
“Special Ops: Lioness,” starring Zoe Saldana, Laysla De Oliveira, Genesis Rodriguez, Michael Kelly, Morgan Freeman, and Nicole Kidman, is currently streaming on Paramount+.
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