The new live-action show "Black Jesus" on Adult Swim beat all other original cable offerings Thursday night as well as some broadcast shows. The premiere broadcast of the comedy show averaged a 0.9 rating among adults 18-49 at 11 p.m.

"Black Jesus" is a new venture for "Boondocks" creator Aaron McGruder and drew a little over 2 million viewers Thursday night. Adult Swim airs late-night content on the same channel as Cartoon Network, which are both owned by Turner Broadcasting System.

Thursday's competition was still significant. "Big Brother" on CBS took the largest under 50 adults viewership, but scripted shows like USA's "Rush" and "Satisfaction" offered other options on cable. "Black Jesus" also outperformed network shows like ABC's "Rookie Blue" and "Gang Related" on FOX.

Additionally, the 11 p.m. broadcast took all adult and adult male demographic groups, holding the number one spot for the entire day among men 18-49 on basic cable.

The show chronicles a black Jesus, played by Gerald "Slink" Johnson living in present day Compton, California. He skips through the neighborhood, cursing, smoking weed and passing out 40 ounces.

There has been significant reaction to the show's premise before it began airing. There are at least four Change.org petitions trying to make Adult Swim cancel the show. The largest one, organized by the Christian Network, has accumulated more than 3,000 signatures.

"['Black Jesus' is] blasphemy and an insult to all believers of Jesus Christ," the page said. "This TV show has twisted the words of our Lord to make a mockery of him and simply can't be tolerated. This show is also racist and degrading to the black community."

Other groups against the show include the American Family Association and subgroup One Million Moms. However, Philadelphia pastor Leslie D. Callahan wrote a piece published in Time that said there are other causes worth boycotting.