Shark: CBS Gives James Woods Series the Hook — No Season Three
CBS has decided to cancel Shark after two seasons on the air. What killed the series?
Shark debuted on September 21, 2006 and stars James Woods as Sebastian “Shark” Stark, an arrogant and cutthroat prosecutor. The TV show did pretty well in its first season on CBS. It ranked 24th for the season with an average of 13.7 million viewers. The one downside was that the show’s viewers tended to skew older. But, in a season littered with prematurely cancelled drama series (Smith, 3 lbs., The Nine, etc.), the show’s ranking and survival was an impressive achievement. The series was renewed for a second season.
Season two kicked off on Sunday, September 23, 2007. In that 10pm timeslot, Shark had to compete against ABC’s popular Brothers & Sisters and consistently lost in total viewers and the all-important 18-49 demographic.
Like most shows, Shark’s production schedule was interrupted by the writers strike. When the strike was over, production resumed and four more episodes were created. After a long absence, new episodes began airing in late April. In the show’s new Tuesday night timeslot, it was easily beaten by ABC’s Dancing with the Stars and FOX’s Hell’s Kitchen in both total and 18-49 viewers.
The show’s chances for a third year were still up in the air until just recently. Ultimately, the combination of Shark’s inability to attract younger viewers, the writers strike, and CBS’ excitement over its new dramas is likely what led the network to cancel the series.
Woods tells the LA Times that the cast and crew were “very saddened” by the news but were trying to stay positive. He continues, “We’re a little baffled by the decision but we’re very supportive… None of us can figure out quite why. But we have no bad feelings. This show did an enormous amount for me personally. We all won doing the show.”
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The current season, cut short by the writers strike, is made up of only 16 episodes. Shark’s series finale is scheduled for Tuesday, May 20th. It’s unlikely that the episode will offer any kind of closure for the series. Stay tuned! 
54. Gary Nunn said,
What can I say? The Sharks have Killed the Shark!
TV Network sharks themselves have a history of not knowing what’s in their own best interest. Another great show gone in the bin.
53. LaVerne said,
Give me back my Shark!!!!!
52. Murphy said,
This was one of my favorite shows. Characters were great. Why do they cancel a show like this and leave one like “Dancing with the Stars?”
51. Jean Gabert said,
i can not believe this series is canceled !!!! probably the only show on TV that i made SURE ,that I watched !!!!! hopefully, someone will rethink this ?????
50. Corinne said,
Cancelling Shark is absolutely terrible. You have more CSI’s than anyone can deal with and you cancel Shark??? The one good show..besides Criminal Minds i watch faithfully. The writers of Shark were great! Drama & comedy! What a shame!
49. MAGS said,
I WAS SHOCKED TO SAY THE LEAST WHEN I HEARD THAT SHARK HAD BEEN CANCELLED! WHAT ARE THE BIG WIGS AT CBS THINKING? IM 35, IN THE AGE GROUP THAT THEIR TRYING TO ATTRACT. MY NEPHEW EVEN WATCHES IT AND HE’S 11! I HOPE ANOTHER NETWORK PICKS IT UP. OH I LIVE IN THE UK & SHARK IS A VERY POPULAR SHOW!
48. Rosemary said,
How could you have cancelled Shark???? There are many other Time slots.
That show was absolutely GREAT!! That was the only show I REALLY looked forward to on CBS!!
You should have put it on MONDAY NIGHTS @ 10.
Yes in place of CSI Miami….and no comment
47. Loretta Humphreys said,
I’m so disapointed you canceled Shark. My husband and I loved it, it’s your problem it’s on at the wrong day. Try following Survivor, we watch that too.
Sunday night was a bad time slot right after the strike. It took us 2 weeks to even find
it was on Sundays. Too many reality shows. We have a few we watch, but just because their cheaper dosen’t mean their entertaining buy the hundereds.
46. Marsi in Dallas said,
BAD move CBS. I too watched it since it started and followed it to each new night. I’m so saddended. I would have rather you ditched some of the other shows that leave me empty and bored. Shame on you!
45. Ian Mills said,
This is horrible!!!! what the hellz was cbs thinking? inabliity to capture young viewers? im 18 now but i watched it since it came on and so did all three of my younger sibs. the youngest is 11 for godsakes!! i just bought the first season dvd too and ive been watching it over and over. I dont know about another network picking it up but that would be smart. The writing and filming was so excellent. casting was also perfect. even non james woods fans could get into it. its got jeri ryan for godsakes. all in all i dont understand in the slightest and i will truly miss the show.
44. Vicki Vaughn said,
Once again a decent show comes on to watch and it gets cancelled. I followed it from the beginning and to each new night. I would love to talk to the person or persons who decide what shows get canned. Just because a show is not #1 does not mean a lot of people can’t enjoy it. James Woods is a great actor and well worth hanging on to. The rest of the cast was fantastic as well.
43. Ann Zimmermann said,
What’s wrong with you people! Finally a good show like Shark that’s not reality **** and you cancel it. Some of us want to see entertainment and not a bunch of people eating bugs, picking out a mate because they can’t get a date in real life or idiots trying to be a one hit wonder. Wake up!!!
42. Tracy said,
I too am very upset that Shark has been canceled! It was also one of my favorite shows. I never missed an episode in both seasons. James Woods was really awesome as were all the actors. I don?t understand what happened. I too can’t stand some of the stupid reality shows. They are not worth the time or money it takes to make them. Some of the ridiculous reality shows like Survivor are just getting old and boring. I will truly miss the show as will many of my friends. I hope another network picks it up. They really would be smart to do so!
41. Marie Tomlinson said,
I can’t believe Shark has been cancelled! It was one of my favourite shows. My husband and I never missed an episode in both seasons. James Woods was awesome and all the actors were superb. I don’t understand what happened. I would much rather see a show like Shark on then some of the ridiculous reality shows like Survivor that are just getting old and boring. The same thing happened with Jericho. We will truly miss the show. Maybe another network will pick it up. They would be smart to do so!