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.
O brother where is Chaos–I really liked it–hope it returns with others from my not so subtle alluded unto movie.
Just like CBS air a show without much previews and doesn’t look for another time slot.
CBS needs better executives that knows a good show and can save one.
Go Stacy
Put CHAOS back on. The reason it took a while to catch on is because the demographics of those who watch your shows and those who watch CHAOS is different. People who watched this show as you can see are not reality show viewers. Put it back on, advertise it in an adult viewing slots, and have it as alternative mature viewing night, like Saturday when teens and young adults are out of the house.
We love this show! Can’t believe it got such poor ratings. It’s one of the few TV shows worth watching in this day and age of reality show overkill. Funny, refreshing and a wonderful cast of characters.
Don’t take another clever show off the air! How about promoting it?! Instead of an 8pm time slot, how about 9pm before Blue Bloods?! Quit pandering to the 18-24 demographic!
So disappointed that Chaos is not on. What a great show! Dump reality TV and bring it back please!
I loved the show and so did my husband. It sucks that they took it off the air!
I only discovered the show after it had been cancelled I guess; really poor job of marketing a new show CBS! I like it a lot, especially the interoffice chemistry which I was just waiting to watch develop. I think other people WHO ARE AWARE that the show exists, would like it also. Maybe switching to another night to build up an audience would have been the proper action CBS, instead of bringing on 4 new shows we aren’t going to watch either. And just a reminder, Seinfeld did poorly in it’s first year, and Frasier was nearly canceled in… Read more »
It was a good show and I truly looked forward to the new season.
Bring it back! This was a great show! A nice mix of action, humor and drama.
Who the H rates these shows. Every time a like a show they cut it and leave stupid ones on. I’m tired of local tv channels that continue to do this. I’ll stick to shows on cable.
Loved it!! It was different and kwerky!
I only discovered Chaos after it began airing on Saturday evenings. I enjoyed it from the very first episode I saw and I watched it every week thereafter. I don’t know why I missed it on Friday evenings before it was cancelled but apparently lots of other viewers did too. The problem seems to have been one of poor scheduling, not a poor show.
I love the show. They need to find a night for it. I watched it on Saturday nights. Didn’t know it came on Friday nights.
Bring back Chaos! The whole family loved this show from my adult sons 28 & 29. My husband. 50 and myself 55 that a big demo. Please try again.