Sorry, old chum: ‘Sharknado’ ratings not fintastic

Tired of hearing about “Sharknado�? So were the vast majority of TV viewers Thursday night, if ratings are any indication.

Syfy’s made-for-TV movie about a shark-filled tornado striking Los Angeles was an instant sensation on Twitter. But not on TV, it seems. An average of 1.4 million total viewers tuned in, according to Nielsen.

That’s a decent rating, but far from exceptional. Two years ago, Syfy drew 2.2 million to “Swamp Shark� -- which was similar in theme to “Sharknado� but got nowhere near as much social-media traction.

PHOTOS: Cable versus broadcast ratings

One expert isn’t surprised. “There are certain things that social media loves,� said Sree Sreenivasan, chief digital officer at Columbia University. Apparently, sharks and tornadoes are two of them.

But that doesn’t translate, he added, into actual popularity. “Just because someone’s writing about you doesn’t mean they’ll buy your product,� he said.

Oh, well. Has Syfy considered possible sequels, such as “Sharkcano,� “Sharkapalooza� or “Zombie Sharkageddon�?

What do you think of the “Sharknado� ratings?

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Twitter: @scottcollinsLAT