CBS is planning to switch a couple of their freshman dramas around for midseason. Blue Bloods, which currently airs on Friday nights at 10pm, will move to Wednesdays at 10pm beginning January 19th. The Defenders will shift from Wednesdays at 10pm to Fridays at 8pm beginning February 4th (filling cancelled Medium’s timeslot).
On Friday nights, Blue Bloods has been averaging a 1.8 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 11.22 million viewers. While that’s a lot of total viewers, the demo numbers are about what Numb3rs was averaging last season, before CBS cancelled it. The move to Wednesday nights will likely show the network whether or not the series is capable of doing better in the demo department. It’ll have four weeks in the timeslot before heading back to Fridays at 10pm on February 11th. Spin-off Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior takes over the Wednesday night slot on February 16th.
Things haven’t been looking too good for The Defenders and the move to Friday nights isn’t exactly a vote of confidence. You may recall that CBS ordered just five additional episodes in October, bringing the first season total to just 18 installments.
Defenders has averaged a 2.2 in the 18-49 demo and 10.02 million total viewers. It premiered at a 2.9 rating and has fallen as low as a 1.8 in the demo. Of CBS’ 18 scripted series, it currently ranks 15th, not far above Blue Bloods which has already been airing on little-watched Fridays.
What do you think? Will this move help or hurt these shows’ chances for season two? What do you think the end result will be?
Say goodbye to both shows. Once networks start moving shows or pre-empting that is the death nell. Too bad as I like both shows
I love Blue Bloods, you always need a good cop drama, haven’t found once since NYPD Blue. I can take or leave The Defenders. I watched Belushi in According to Jim and I am not really buying the whole lawyer thing.
Blue Bloods did so well on Friday , CBS made a desided to put it on Wednesday.It is a better night, and they think Blue Bloods will do much better on the ratings .
blue bloods will not be cancel .
Love both Defenders and Blue Blood. They are both very entertaining . Hope they are not cancelled.
I love the Defenders too! To the poster that said “Defenders is a typical hollyweed formulaic pablum” (pablum is bland baby food) I say you should know that the story is based on REAL characters!
These guys actually exist. Jerry and Jim followed them around to prep for the part in the show and some of the episodes are based on real clients.
Maybe they should be saying that from time to time on the intro?
It’s a great show, but Fridays aren’t good for any show. Sadly I bet it’s canceled after this season.
As a baby-boomer who doesn’t have her dance card filled out on Friday nights, I will find these shows no matter where they are using the guide on my remote. However, I am concerned for two good shows that are entertaining and not offensive. I’ve grown tired of the blood and gore and violence of many shows and these shows don’t feel they have to show “everything”, titillate, or shock. Our culture is becoming desensitized by much of what we see. TV, movies and the internet are jading us and making people crave the more bizarre, twisted images and ideas… Read more »
I love The Defenders – it always leaves me feeling happy. The two leads are both very watchable and the plots are always interesting.
Really baffled why this hasn’t caught on as it is so much better than many others.
Blue Bloods is ridiculous all by itself, what with the moronic cubplot about the dead brother investigating some mystical police fraternity that is only mentioned for around three seconds every other episode and then forgotten.
“Defenders” is typical hollyweed formulaic pablum. I can’t believe its even still on the air. Hopefully the friday night stint will be the final nail in its coffin.
Darn I work Friday nights! These are two good shows. The problem with moving shows to a different day and a different time is no one knows when there on. So, they will mostly likely get cancelled.
moving any show to friday night is television suicide. Shows are more likely to be viewed Sunday through Thursday nights.
I love both shows, especially the Defenders. Do Not Cancel these shows!!!!!
I didn’t know that the The Defenders was in a bad position and I wouldn’t have guessed that with Blue Bloods. They are good shows. I wonder what went wrong.
Love Blue Blood and The defenders isn’t bad so I feel they should not be canclled
It won’t work. Since they’re in the Friday night slot, it is likely that both shows will be axed soon.
I like both shows… Anything with action. to kee me involved in a show.