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While they might not be something Bonnie Hammer is hanging up on her refrigerator, the new "Flash Gordon" series debuted to respectable numbers Friday night.

SciFi Channel called it the best-rated series premiere of 2007, earning a 1.5 household rating from Nielsen Media Research, representing approximately 2.1 million viewers. Those numbers finished ahead of two other series premieres over the past eight months on the network -- "Painkiller Jane" earned a 1.3 household, while "The Dresden Files" clocked a 1.4 household in its series debut.

"Flash Gordon" -- which had mostly negative reviews -- also delivered for SciFi in key advertising demographics, including 1.2 million adults between the ages of 25 and 54, and 973,000 viewers between 18 and 49. That made it the fifth-most watched entertainment program for adults 18 to 49, and seventh for 25 to 54. The network also touted the fact that its 25 to 54 demo numbers were stronger than ABC, which aired back-to-back reruns of comedian George Lopez's sitcom.

The ratings might be tops for 2007 for SciFi Channel, but they greatly pale to other premieres in recent years including the ones for "Battlestar Galactica" and "Stargate: Atlantis."

"Flash Gordon" airs Fridays at 9 p.m. ET on SciFi Channel.

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