Mrs.Brown'sBoysbecamearunawaysuccessuponitsinitialbroadcast.EveryepisodeairedwonitstimeslotforRTé,withanaverageviewershipof753,500inJanuary,2011.Oneepisode'sratingbeatthatofRTé'sownratingsgiantTheLateLateShow,with856,000viewerstuningintowatch.However,criticsdislikedtheshow.\"Thewholethingisentirelypredicatedonviewersfindingamandressedasafoul-mouthedelderlywomanintrinsicallyfunny,\"notedBerniceHarrisonintheIrishTimes.\"Ifyoudo,you’reawayinahack(andtheviewingfiguresareastronomical),butifyoudon’t,andyouthinkthatdiedoutwithLesDawsonandDickEmery,thenit’salonghalf-hour.\"TheIrishIndependentsaidthatMrsBrown'sBoyswasthetypeofTVprogrammethat\"thatmakesyouvaguelyembarrassedtobeIrish\".TheDailyTelegraph'sSamRichardsnotedthatshow'scomedyhasa\"rudimentarynature\