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 know that shows are very expensive in these times to produce, and that the mangement of the networks are looking for there profit right now ( the excutives all seem to be from the now generation). It seems somebody had it in for this series right from the start, maybe political within CBS, only they know, if so shame on you! The networks, not just CBS, no longer will take any chances thier products unless it is a reality show. So why even bother, quit giving us, your audience-customer false hope. This is the last straw, I have given… Read more »
Chaos is one of the best new shows. I can’t believe CBS is canceling it. If they were targeting 18-49 year-olds, why in the world would they put it on a weekend night??? Even I am smarter than that. So many people tivo shows and watch later. The whole Nielsen thing is a farce. CBS, give us some real entertainment! Give Chaos another season!
Chaos is fantastic and CBS should have done a better job promoting it. I hope it’s not cancelled. Best show in years!
This show is fun to watch, smart and different! I love it and would hate to see it go! It has been showing on Saturdays which I love. If this gets canceled it would be a real shame especially when you see all the other bad shows they keep!
It was a fun well written show for its action/fun approach. Its a throw back to several
shows in the past that were a success. If CBS wants trash on its main network, put it
on cable where some of the best scripted shows exist, and leave the network for mindless
16year olds, and those who have no taste.
I am a fan of the old series. Not very big on sitcoms and definitely not into reality tv. Chaos fills my viewing habits just fine. The cast seems to blend well and has the capability of becoming as good as the NCIS cast. It would be a shame not to give Chaos more time to find its audience. The big networks are driving us more to cable/satellite tv where we can find more shows like this. Hey, TNT, are you listening? Pick up Chaos!
This is the best show I have seen all summer. I really wish they (or some other network ) would bring the show back. I will miss it.
I think the show is really delightful and well written and acted. Hope CBS will think about renewing it. I think it is on the basic principles as Chuck and look how successful that program is.
I agreed — I have been TiVo’ing CHAOS but just started watching — it’s great fun, and the cast is adorable. Please don’t cancel it!!
CHAOS is a great show! They need to bring it back!!
I agree! Chaos was wonderfully cast and delightfully clever! In my humble opinion, shows like CSI: Miami and CSI:NY where the formula has clearly outlived its novelty are safer bets for CBS than a cleverly written, tongue-in-cheek take on the CIA. I chuckle incessantly at James Murray’s sexy, brilliant and quick-witted dialogue. More depressing is how belittling it is as a viewer that CBS doesn’t give us a chance to get into a show before it determines it a failure based on a small sampling. They better give James Murray the same 3 chances they gave Alex O’Loughlin. He deserves… Read more »
I love choas. Please continue shows
What is the date for the series finale? At least, we viewers can DVR what’s left. At the end of each episode CBS does not even show a preview for the next week! Shame on you, CBS. This is very unprofessional! This show, as everyone says, never got a chance or fair shake. It just popped up without the regulat fanfare most others shows get.
Maybe, another network or cable channel will pick it up. TBS did that with Conan, Sy-Fy picked up Merlin after NBC cancelled it.
Let’s hope for network fairness.
Charlie Manning » I believe next week’s is the last. Only 13 were made.
It is clear that CBS DOESN”T care. They do poor (at best) promotion, put it on a night that no one expects a good show to be on (for the targeted demographic), shows episodes out of order, and can’t give it enough airings to even do a proper test. This my friends is why the cable channels are kicking broadcast TV’s butt. CBS apparently relies too much on a snippet of the holy book of ratings and not enough reliance on their growing and happy fan base. Now I understand why they keep the crappy shows they do and let… Read more »
I love CHAOS! I agree with everyone and wish the higher ups would reconsider. I don’t care that they are showing the rest of the season on Saturdays. In the age of DVRs it really doesn’t matter when a show is on, the fans will find it. I was a little annoyed that they aired episodes out of order but never dissuaded me from watching. It just made realize just how stupid CBS can be.