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.
Please bring Chaos back. Our whole family loved it! It’s so typical for the network to cancel a show that’s not violent but funny and adventurous.
We have been complaining what happened to our program…..We thought it was just another (only summer) shows…but it is only the end of july?????????? Now I just found out that the stupids did it again , I was so mad I could cry. Why do they keep fooling arround with things. They had a good thing in CSI I am still a fan. but they they over did it to get more rateings… Now don’t get me wrong , I love the csi group, but they are going to be leaving us soon …you can tell…they are moving the programs… Read more »
We left the country for two weeks and could not understand what happened to the DVR. As soon as we got back I could not find the recordings of CHAOS. In fact, I could not even find any trace that it ever existed. I could not believe that CBS felt so strongly about the “apparent” failure of this series and try to make it disappear. At least let the series play out and have a natural demise. It might pick up and have great ratings after all. So many networks summarily stop a story and toss it away, just because… Read more »
It’s a great show – bring it back!!!
My husband and I loved CHAOS! Please bring it back! Put it on any other night except Friday. We loved it’s quirkyness.
We loved this show… there are so many shows that are really the same show with different characters & locations…so this was a refreshing change! Seems like everytime we like a show it gets dropped (guess we do not have the same tastes as the powers that be at the networks)..also loved My Dad Said with Capt Kirk. We still have the Mentalist to watch (I think)
The whole family loved Chaos! There wasn’t enough advertising for the show. My guess is that most people didn’t even know about it. I would love it if you brought it back.
I absolutly loved watching Chaos on Saturday nights, please bring this show back.
Sorry to see it go. I really enjoyed it. It got better and better
My wife and I loved the show. We hope that it will appear again on TV. It was a favorite of ours in just a short time. CBS: give it another try.
I really can’t understand why a show like Chaos get’s cancelled. It was a refreshing and humorous look at the “CIA”. There is so much Crap on TV nowdays that I wouldn’t even come close to watching…. but then I am much more educated than the average TV viewer. That is why most TV shows are aimed at the intelligence of an 8 year old.
i enjoyed the show and thought the saturday slot was perfect. pls consider putting it back on the air!
Please resume this show. It is fabulous.
My husband and I only watched one episode, and our reaction was so-so. But, we were definitely going to give it another chance, because Eric Close is a GREAT actor. I have loved everything he has been in. When I saw he was in another show, I was happy for him. Sorry to see this series leave so quick, but no doubt he will return soon, as any series will be fortunate to have Eric Close in it!!
My husband and I loved Chaos. Fun show for Saturday night, where we live. The characters were terrific. We will really miss the entertainment. Hate reality shows.