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.
Most shows are mediocre for the first few episodes. The cast are settling into their roles, the creators and the network execs are trying to communicate desires and compromise, the audience has to get to know the show better, etc. They did kind of throw us in and some of the plot lines felt forced.
That said, they really didn’t give it a chance. I hope they do bring it back–at least give it a full season before pulling it. Don’t pull a FOX on us.
I could only watch this series online (they should take those viewers/ratings into consideration) and loved it from the first episode. It was a great series with a good cast, characters and writing, and was one of the few new series I really loved. I don’t understand how something like Chaos can get pulled after just a few episodes when other shows that suck go on for ages. From other posts I’ve read about it, it sounds like it wasn’t well advertised and was put on late friday night. Maybe they could try it at a better time on a… Read more »
it was great we want it back.the cast are talented and the show is funny and exceptional so sad if it won’t be back on tv soon
This was becoming one of my favorite shows. Great cast, storyline and funny. What ever happened to giving shows a chance? This show started with 1 million viewers and got yanked after 3 episodes. It must not be any good, take it off the air. Another show I watched, Breaking In, had 7 million viewers and got yanked. What exactly is the magic number to keep a show on the air?
My husband and I both really liked this show. I was sad when it was pulled. Maybe it is the Friday night time frame that was the problem, I don’t know…I would like to see you bring it back, maybe on a different day and time? Not sure what will work best, as we watch almost exclusively CBS shows and have some on each night. Maybe it could be a summer show instead of reruns of some of the fall shows. Anyway, I would love to see it back on the air to give it another try.
I ran across this show completely by accident, but I was hooked with the first episode! The fact that I had no idea it existed is proof that the geniuses at CBS dropped the ball promoting this show. I think if CBS gave it a real chance, it would do much better in the ratings. It is hilarious and extremely entertaining!
We love Chaos, it’s witty, fun and original. The characters are unique and instantly create a fan base favorite among our family. Hopefully another network has the sense to continue with this series.
This show was so well-written and funny to boot. CBS should have put it on after NCIS, instead of NCIS LA, which I never watch. Oh, I tried, but it never hit me. But Chaos was original, laughable, and the characters were very well defined. It seems every time I start watching a show and really like it, it gets pulled. Ratings are a bunch of garbage anyway. Hey, isn’t this the same network that pulled “Moonlight” the year before the whole vampire genre took hold? And Alex O’Loughlin was so much hunkier in that than he is on Hawaii… Read more »
The first show confused me, but I came back to watch and the show grew on me. By the last aired show, I was a fan. I am sorry CBS didn’t give it time to find its niche – it was put on the schedule so late and the ads for it were as confusing as the first show, so it had to be hard for people to know whether to try it or not. I’d love to see the rest of the series and maybe it can be a mid-season replacement for something that fails next year?
This show was alot of fun to watch and I loved Tim Blake Nelson. Bring it BACK!
I think Chaos was awesome. The cast is exceptional. I enjoyed the humor. Bring it back.
bring it back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! one of the best new shows!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We want it Back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chaos was Awesome. C.B.S. is run by morons
I only ever saw Chaos online because we don’t have cable, but I loved it!! I thought it was perfect because it had the action of the CIA with funny characters. It was brilliant. I hope they will show or post the rest of the episodes and realize how much of a hit it really way. Friday night is an awful time slot for a new show!
I loved the show and even plugged it on my face book page but it was cancelled the very next week. CBS did not advertise the show enough I love each member of the cast from previous shows and stumbled onto the show by accident. Just when it was really growing in fan support they yanked it. Adverstise properly and put it back on from the first episode and see what happens. LOVED IT PLEASE PUT IT BACK ON Judy