There’s another casualty on network TV. CBS’ military drama, The Unit, has been cancelled after four seasons on the air.
The Unit revolves around an elite military unit and their civilian loved ones. The series features the talents of Dennis Haysbert, Regina Taylor, Audrey Marie Anderson, Robert Patrick, Max Martini, Abby Brammell, Michael Irby, Scott Foley, Demore Barnes, Alyssa Shafer, Danielle Hanratty, Kavita Patil, and Rebecca Pidgeon.
Created by acclaimed director and writer David Mamet, the series debuted in mid-season 2006. An average audience of 15.5 million viewers ensured a second season for the drama but year two didn’t go as well, attracting 11.1 million viewers. The show has continued to decline in the ensuing years and season four has averaged an audience of 9.67 million. Though the overall viewership isn’t too low, the series does skew older. The average age of The Unit’s viewership is about 55.
The series has been “on the bubble” for awhile and many took it as a bad sign when showrunner Shawn Ryan signed on to helm FOX’s Lie to Me. Ryan however maintained that he would continue on both shows if The Unit was renewed. He’d previously performed double duty while working concurrently on The Unit and The Shield.
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Like most of the networks’ actions these days, the decision to renew or cancel came down to finances. CBS had asked for all of its shows to reduce their budgets. The Unit is actually already cheaper to produce than it looks. Shot primarily in Southern California, it costs less than $3 million per episode to produce. That’s about half as expensive as other primetime dramas.
A couple weeks ago, Haysbert told the LA Times that he was unsure if he wanted the show to come back if it meant making too many creative and salary concessions. He said, “There are a number of factors that go into whether I want it back or not. It’s been a great ride and, if I don’t work with these people again, I’ll certainly play golf with them.”
In an age when the networks and studios have to watch every dollar, they’ve all been favoring renewing shows that are created by sister or in-house production companies. Since 20th Century Fox TV produces the show, the network wouldn’t benefit if the show went into syndication.
Prior to the cancellation news, Gary Newman, chairman of The Unit’s studio, said, “For the CBS viewer, this show is unique. The audience may not be huge, but there’s going to be enormous disappointment if it goes off and it’s replaced with one more procedural or forensics show.”
Image courtesy CBS.
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Am 23 and looking forward to enlisting( Special Forces). The Unit gave me the insight of what to expect and how to cope so you gotta bring it back!
I have followed the show since the very first episode. I love the action and the behind the scenes drama. This a very well written show. Having a military back ground I can also relate to many of the situations that so often occur on the missions. If the network just has to cancel the show they could atleast do a grand finale to show what happens to the unit and its members so we the viewers get some type of closure. I really think they are making a big mistake in canceling the show.
I’m saddened by the cancelation of The Unit. My husband and I are 30 years old, 25 years younger than the shows ‘average viewer’ and this show was the only one we both enjoyed. What a disappointment.
This is (was) the best show on TV. I also have a military background and I read alot of books with stories similar to this show. If CBS won’t bring it back, hopefully another network will pick it up.
Please bring back The Unit. It has got to be one of the best shows on TV. How do you cancle a show like this. Do these network people even pay attention to what people want.
So the geezer network has canceled a great show because the bean counters conclude the average age of viewership is 55. What crap.
This only confirms that CBS and the U.S. Congress have much in common. They both are overrun with overpaid blowhards who fool themselves into thinking they know what America needs, and lack any real understanding of what America wants.
Are you kidding?!!! I have been waiting months for the Unit to return only to find out that some tunnel vision bureaucrat has cancelled it. With all of the CRAP TV you choose to cancel one of the best shows. I really don’t understand what you people are thinking. This show was entertaining, thrilling, and on the edge. It gave civilians an insight on what may be going on throughout the world. Though it was fiction it made us appreciate the military and their families. I am the wife of a retired Marine Office and knowing some of these folks it gave me a different perspective on what may or may not be going on. BRING IT BACK and cancel all of these stupid reality shows. Please tell me you aren’t going to touch NCIS. I think your scheduling should be run by those of us that actually watch TV and some VP that is looking for a new hopeful “cash cow.”
I’m looking at the dates of these comments and I think alot of people are in the same boat as me. We’ve been wondering when the show is premiering and then we see this announcement! So CBS will pick up Medium(which has really dropped off in quality btw) and they can’t keep The Unit?! This article is over 5 months old and look at how many people are posting! We want this show back!
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