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.
Work friday nights but catching up on series on saturdays love the cast why are you canceling? I get so sick of networks jumping the gun at least let us try to watch more than 2 episodes before you decide it isn’t working.love to get out of the reality world nice to see any network who can put something else on tv.
My husband and I really enjoy the show Chaos, we are watching it every Saturday night and are hoping that CBS decides not to cancel it.
I like this show! Why cancel? Why not cancel thise boring ones?
This is what tv does they take shows that we like and canceled them. They think every one likes these shows that everyone acts dumd for the cameras WE DO NOT
This has ben a fun show, one which friends as well a myself have found exciting, touched with humor, discovery in plot, and just plain good acting on part of cast. Do not remove it. It had no pre-events of any substance to announce it and falling into a time spot on a given night is not a blueprint for overwhelming ratings to begin with. Time will show it has a loyal audience!!!!!
I agree with everything already said. It was a smart entertaining show with a great group of actors. The network did it an injustice by cancelling it after only a few showings. I get so tired of seeing the same old style/genre of shows. It never fails, I will find a show with a different style–love it–and then it gets cancelled because not enough interest by the younger group. Must all shows be judged by the young? Considering it is the middle age and older groups who have more interest, maybe what we like should be considered.
Loved the show and had a number of others who thought it was good. CBS didn’t do their job ads promo etc. Never knew it was on and stumbled on it by someone else who thought it was very and passed the infro on to me. Well I agree> Maybe TNT or USA one of the smart networks will pick it up and make a few million.
I can’t believe the series has already been cancelled. I really enjoyed the show.
Usually it’s the network’s fault. This was a very entertaining show.
same thing happened to human target. Poor network marketing and show placement.
I am really going to miss chaos. The show was very clever with good characters. Of course tv only wants reality shows.
Originally given two weeks. You really expect a huge 18-49 yr. old demographic on a Friday night? Keep taking off good programming before giving it a chance. I bet NBC is glad they didn’t pull Friends too soon after a poor start.
Oh, how many more chances are you going to give “Rules of Engagement?” Who’s butt is David Spade kissing?
This is a great show. I hope somebody wises up and continues it!
THIS IS A BIG MISTAKE SINCE EVERYBODY I KNOW LOVE THIS SHOW. FREDY AND THE REST ARE FANTASTIC. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND VERY WELL ABOUT RATINGS BUT I THINK THAT THE NETWORK DOES NOT GIVE A REAL CHANCE FOR THE SHOWS IN GENERAL TO GROW. (CASE IN POINT “BETTER WITH YOU”).WE HOPE THAT SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN THAT MAKE THEM CHANGE THER MINDS.
YOUR CAPS MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT YOU’RE SERIOUS.
I was so disappointed that it was cancelled and annoyed that it was cancelled without a fair chance. It was clever and funny and the characters were engaging. I didn’t see ANY publicity for the show–it just appeared on the Friday night listing and I only watched it because there was nothing I wanted to watch opposite it.
It didn’t help the series that it was consistently showed out of order. It was a show with great potential and fairly well presented. Any fault falls on CBS for it failing.