CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- USA has gone three-for-three in the original series department as the premiere of "Peacemakers" Wednesday night was the second most-watched bow in basic cable history.

5.2 million total viewers watched the 90-minute opener of the Tom Berenger-led drama, second only to fellow USA series "The Dead Zone" as the biggest opening for a basic cable series (6.4 million on 6/16/02). "Peacemakers" also finished third among all broadcast and cable networks in the 10:00/9:00c hour, beating ABC's "The Family." Overall the premiere managed a 4.0 household rating, not to mention was up 135% in households and 110% in adults 25-54 over the network's recent time-period average.

USA now owns three of the top five debuts in basic cable history. In addition to "The Dead Zone" and "Peacemakers," the network's "Monk" scored 4.76 million viewers for its two-hour bow (7/12/02). The other two top spots belong to FX for "Nip/Tuck" (3.7 million on 7/22/03) and "The Shield" (4.8 million on 3/12/02).