 "Episode 8" was originally broadcast on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) network on September 30, 1990.The initial broadcast was watched by 19.1 million households in the United States—which represented 20 percent of the available audience and 12.2 percent of all households in the country.It was the most-viewed episode of "Twin Peaks" second season and following its broadcast, the series ratings dropped a considerable amount—which lead to its eventual cancellation.