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.”
>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! 
July 20th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
I am from the uk and watch this shows every episode. I cannot believe CBS have cancelled it. The actors and scripts are brilliant. James woods especially is a fantastic actor and no other actor could do this show like him. CBS you are total idiots for cancelling this show and i think you should strongly reconsider your decision, before another network finds out just how popular it is and snaps it up. Someone should start an online petition to SAVE SHARK. I would deffo sign it. All the best James and co. We all have our fingers crossed for you x
July 20th, 2008 at 9:11 am
I hardly ever watch TV… I watch Prison Break, not because it’s a good show anymore, but I got sucked in, in the first season and now I’ve got to stick it out til the end. Shark on the other hand is a high quality program and it saddens me that it has been canceled. It was one of the two things shows I watched every week. Soon enough I’ll never even watch TV. I guess that isn’t too much of a bad thing if all thats on there is this reality crap.
July 18th, 2008 at 7:43 am
The networks continue to cancel the only few good shows that were worth watching. The rest is just crap! I gave up watching local network programs for PPV or rental movies.
July 13th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
I am 61 yrs. old. I am not in the 18-49 yr group and love and miss shark. my husband was shocked that it was cancelled.
most shows on tv today stink. james woods is a fantantic actor. the new upcoming actors/actresses have no talent. put him in another time slot.
what is wrong with tv today?
July 12th, 2008 at 11:08 am
I love(d) this show! I watch the reruns whenever they come on. The network really has to bring it back. I’m so sick of seeing th bachelors/bachelorettes try to find ‘love’ on tv (lazy ********, go out and date like regular people!), stupid beautiful people and ugly nerdy people try to become a couple, or people trying to survive on an island by eating only bugs… I’m so sick of the **** that’s on TV nowadays! Shark was awesome!!! I’m 24, and I know that we’d only make not even a dent on the amount of viewers that watched the show, but my husband and our friends and me would all gather and watch that show together They are ridiculous for doing that… I will refuse to watch anything on CBS now until they bring back a Shark-esque type series that starred James Woods dammit! Stupid network monkeys!
July 9th, 2008 at 8:08 am
Enough with the REALITY SHOWS and bring back shows with content. Shark was a show that appealed to the over 30 crowd and then some even younger. James Woods is a great actor and the rest of the crew was as well exceptional. CBS might want to rethink their decision, as this show will be sadly missed by many. There are few good shows to choose from and if you are not a Reality show watcher you are in serious problems this season. BRING BACK SHARK!!!!! James we will miss you.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:18 pm
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.
June 28th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Give me back my Shark!!!!!
June 28th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
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?”
June 28th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
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 ?????
June 25th, 2008 at 11:53 am
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!
June 25th, 2008 at 11:40 am
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!
June 25th, 2008 at 11:01 am
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
June 23rd, 2008 at 2:14 pm
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.
June 13th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
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!
June 8th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
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.
June 7th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
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.
June 7th, 2008 at 6:17 am
What’s wrong with you people! Finally a good show like Shark that’s not reality crap 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!!!
June 6th, 2008 at 7:43 am
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!
June 5th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
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!