Right on schedule, CBS has decided to ditch their new Friday night TV series, CHAOS, after just a few weeks on the air. The show stumbled in the ratings right from the start and never recovered. It’s no longer on the air but is it cancelled?
A dramatic comedy, CHAOS follows a small group of CIA misfit spies who make up the Clandestine Administration and Oversight Services (CAOS). In addition to taking on threats to national security, they also must take on redtape and typical government bureaucracy. The TV series stars Freddy Rodriguez, Eric Close, James Murray, Tim Blake Nelson, Carmen Ejogo, Christina Cole, and Kurtwood Smith.
As detailed here, CHAOS debuted to a horrible 1.1 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 6.53 million viewers. That was quite a bit lower than the season average of Medium, a series that CBS cancelled because of poor ratings.
In the second week, CHAOS fell even lower to a 0.9 rating in the demo and 5.73 million viewers. Last Friday night, bumped up ever so slightly in the demo, to a 1.0 rating and 5.683 million. Unfortunately, that was far from enough of a gain to save the TV series.
CBS has pulled CHAOS from the schedule effective immediately. This week, a rerun of CSI: NY will fill the timeshot — and probably get better ratings. Next week, the previously scheduled The Royal Wedding: Modern Majesty will air. Then, beginning on May 6th, new episodes of Flashpoint will take over.
The network has 10 episodes of CHAOS left sitting on the shelf. CBS hasn’t said if there are any plans to release the unaired installments. Though CHAOS hasn’t been officially cancelled yet, there’s no way that they’ll be renewing it for a second season.
UPDATE: A statement from CBS indicates that the show will return to the schedule at some point in the future.
What do you think? Why did the TV show do so poorly, even by Friday night standards? Will you miss CHAOS?
Image courtesy CBS.
I LIKE THE SHOW I THINK IT SHOULDNT BE CANCELD JUST BECAUSE THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS HAD LOW RATINGS. WHEN A NEW SHOW COMES ON IT TAKES AWILE FOR PEOPLE TO START REALIZING THAT IT IS ON. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I LOVE CHAOS!!!!!!!!
How dumb are you at cbs hello this was just a really refreashing new show I told sooo many people about this and I swore it would be the next best show to watch and what do you do???????????? please don’t cancel this soo many of us want to see the good guys do what they have to do to win without so much blood and here I am telling everyone to watch it and what do you do good grief get it together we all want our real life heros these guys were sooo much fun to watch let’s… Read more »
It’s so unfair. I fell in love with the first episode. I go out the next week. The next time I see it is for the final episode. What? Don’t let this show get lost in the shuffle. There are enough overly simple shows out there. Chaos treats you like an intelligent human being, and remembers that you don’t have to emphasize EVERY LITTLE NUANCE JUST TO MAKE A POINT. Subtlety can work just as well. That alone makes it a refreshing change. So don’t make the same mistake as happened withFirefly. Remember that show? Also an all-star cast,also cancelled.… Read more »
Dear CBS,
Please Cancel yourself and pass the show to a decent network okay?
Thanks
om nom nom nom
I think CBS canceled this show prematurely. They should give it another chance, when the season finale for most of their show popular show is over, CBS should air all the remaining episodes. This show is funny, clever and a “non- stress” show. If CBS will not put it back on the air, they should sell it to cable network such as USA or TNT.
Why must they go out of their way to kill all decent television. I am a fairly intelligent 28 year old and there is hardly anyhting out there! What is out there gets moved weekly and is next to impossible to follow. I was about to cancel my satellite as I scrolled through yet another evening of ridiculous reality garbage when I was pulled in by chaos, I work shifts and must PVR what few shows I watch, I got all ready to be entertained by this great new show pulled up my PVR menu and was simply told “no… Read more »
I really liked this series… just not home much on Friday nights. No DVR, so I couldn’t even record it… I will miss this show, it was witty, funny, fresh and exciting… I would like to see more episodes!!!
Bring the show back. It is a good show and I think it will catch on given a little time. CBS bases its decisions on viewership of 18-49 yr, olds. Hummm, maybe that’s why there are so many inane sit coms. CHAOS had intellectual humor, great storylines and interesting characters. Shame on CBS.
Please bring chaos back! Its a great show with great characters and maybe the demographic that watches it does not normally stay home on friday nights. Put it on another night and it will do great! People my age love it, 25-35! We like or weekends to get fresh air not sit inside since were starting our carrers, juggling friends, family and life. Don’t ruin a great show cause it’s set at a crappy time on friday. Also, do your ratings take into account people watching it online bc thru missed it on friday.
The show seemed quite clever. The storylines were complex and almost believable. The humor was wry and intelligent. No wonder it failed- most Americans need over wrought, melodramatic crap with simplistic Good/Evil storylines and stereotypical characters or their little brains get overheated. No wonder this show couldn’t survive.
Make room for something they can cope with like “Dancing with CSI:Poughkeepsie”.
Agreed
I was planning to watch the two episodes I’ve missed (Spring Break and pure school workload) when I learned Chaos was pulled out. I did a double-take. I don’t do double-takes. Chaos was a refreshing show; crazily tongue in cheek, like me. It was pulled out? /It was pulled out?!/ I can’t believe it, but apparently it happened. I’m relieved to see CBS will return it soon, because it better. The first episode charmed me, the second made me aww so hard it hurts, and I haven’t watch the third. But I will probably get back to you all giddy… Read more »
Very disappointed. It was a great show; CBS didn’t give the show a chance.
I am sad to see something great end so quick. To many reality show garbage show. You did not give this show a real shot. How many shows start out slow ,but then excel. It was great all those character in this show.
Ben
If you mean shorter, ok…it is great. Show us the rest of the episodes.
It is insane to think any new show with only one real star (Eric Close) will do great right out of the box. I think this one has a good chance at success if given a chance. How about scheduling all available episodes in a decent time slot right after the season finales
are over, instead of reruns of some questionable existing series. My wife and I are nearly 70 and we make it a point to see anything with Eric Close. We are still waiting for
a movie length wrapup for the old series “Now and Again.”