The unexpected surge in popularity of "Heated Rivalry," a Canadian-produced series about two closeted gay hockey players, has caught television executives by surprise, despite modest viewership numbers. The show, which premiered on HBO Max in late November after being licensed from Crave, a Canadian network, has generated a level of fan enthusiasm rarely seen for a series outside the streaming giants.

The fervor surrounding the show was evident Wednesday afternoon in Midtown Manhattan, where a crowd of mostly young fans gathered outside NBC Studios hoping to catch a glimpse of Hudson Williams, one of the show's stars, before his appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon." A security guard likened the scene to the frenzy that accompanied Harry Styles' visits to the show, highlighting the unexpected celebrity Williams and the show have garnered.

While "Heated Rivalry's" viewership doesn't place it among the streaming elite like "Stranger Things," "Bridgerton," or "The White Lotus," its impact has been disproportionately large. The show currently ranks outside the top 15 streaming original series in the United States. This echoes the surprise success of the 1992 film "The Mighty Ducks," which, despite mixed reviews, spawned a franchise and fueled a generation's interest in hockey.

The series focuses on the on-ice and off-ice relationship between two star players, exploring themes of identity, acceptance, and the challenges of navigating a hyper-masculine environment. While specific viewership numbers remain undisclosed, the palpable fan engagement suggests a dedicated and vocal audience, proving that a show's impact can extend far beyond traditional metrics. The future of "Heated Rivalry" remains to be seen, but its unexpected popularity has already made it a talking point within the television industry.