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.
Loved every episode mixture of funny and action love the characters including RED Foreman as boss. Stupid networks never give it a chance really releasing it on Friday night in the spring hell even the Cape got more episodes than this…….. I pray for cable pickup or some common sense to come to CBS. CBS is also the only station that does have a on demand for cox viewers really get with the times. I watched all three online cause i didn’t know when the were showing it. Loved it. again loved it.
We loved all 3 and were totally ticked that another show was pulled before giving it a chance to gain any following . Guess what you lost us again as a viewer on Friday. We loved Numb3r too, but you cancel that one too over a year ago.
Yeah, I watched all 3 episodes + liked em. The show was good + certainly worthy of keeping on till all the episodes were exhausted.
Why do the lords of t.v. land insist on cancelling shows I like? Give the show a chance! Does a meager 3 airing really give a show a chance to establish itself?
Chaos was an amazing show. It definitely had potential. Not enough episodes were shown so that people could form a like-it or hate-it view on it. i definitely am on the loved-it side and am shocked that there will be no 4th episode. it was a perfect match between humor and spy work. i had my CSI days, but there’s been a lot better out (than CSI) and Chaos was definitely one. I really hope this show comes back. re-runs are definitely a good idea. I know i’d watch them. but we want the new episodes out!! and a second… Read more »
cable can be very profitable
tnt’ s sloan is “we know drama
,This would fit a helluva lot better than”Franklin BASH”(COMEDY), OR”FALLEN SKIES”(SCI-FI). Ialso believe it would atract more viewers on A&E,orFX.Ithink
it’s a shame to let agood show like this one die unnoticed send it to cable
JOEL M. DUNKEL
In all fairness, the show was given very little advertising, in a “fill in” period for programming when viewers aren’t expecting new shows. When a company makes such
reflex decisions as to when to start or end a show, it reflects on their lack of vision and preparation and inability to manage the business.
Any show deserves more.
Seems like the typical network idiocy. Unless a show gets superlative ratings from day one they don’t want to give it a chance. Some shows are a little slower than others to catch on…and frankly a Friday night slot didn’t help any. The demographic they’re aiming at tends to have plans on Fridays.
For pete’s sake, give it a chance to actually be seen and talked about!
Freaking the best show on TV. I loved how it was a perfect mix of comedy and action. And it WASN’T ANOTHER STUPED CRIME SHOW LIKE CSI…ETC. I wish they would put Chaos back on. Me and my entire familey loved it.
what were they thinking of pulling it so soon? I thought it rocked!!
My husband and I was cracking up over it.
PLEASE BRING IT BACK!!!
I loved this show give it a chance
I cannot believe that the show has been pulled. CBS should run the unseen episodes and see what happens. I don’t need to see more reruns. This show was great. It needs to be put back on.
I very much enjoyed the show, and really hate to think it pulled before it ever had a chance to blossom…
My 20 year old daughter and I enjoyed all 3 episodes of this show. We thought the characters were all good as was the story line. I too can’t believe they ran re-runs of CSI: New York. Never watched it and We’re not about to start now. Bring back CHAOS!!