After seven years on the beat, the show’s over for Detective Lily Rush (Kathryn Morris). CBS has officially cancelled Cold Case.
Each episode of Cold Case begins by showing an unsolved crime from the past. The scene then flashes forward to the present day and a group of homicide detectives try to piece together what really happened, using old evidence and new interviews. The series stars Morris, Danny Pino, John Finn, Jeremy Ratchford, Thom Barry, and Tracie Thoms.
Cold Case began in September of 2003 and quickly became a staple of the CBS Sunday night schedule. The crime drama had a successful first season and, by season two, was averaging a 3.5 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 15.1 million viewers. For the next couple seasons, total viewership fell a bit but the all-important demo numbers rose, reaching a 3.8 in season four.
Unfortunately the ratings have come down quite a bit since then. In season five, the show averaged a 2.9 rating and about 12 million viewers. Last season, Cold Case sank lower, to an average of a 2.7 rating and CBS made a choice between renewing ailing Without a Trace or Cold Case. They chose to keep Cold Case but may have regretted it pretty quickly. This season, the show’s ratings dropped even further to a 2.15 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 9.6 million viewers.
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So, while the overall viewership isn’t terrible, the demo numbers are and that’s what brings the ad dollars. CBS often has the most total viewers, but they are often lacking in the 18-49 demo department.
To no surprise, CBS has cancelled Cold Case after seven years on the air. The show won’t be back for season eight next fall. Sadly, the show is not available on DVD. It’s believed that securing the rights for the show’s extensive use of period music is problematic.
What do you think? Are you sorry to see the series go? What could have been done to help the TV show’s ratings?
Image courtesy CBS.
Loved this show. Been watching reruns and the story lines are so good. Wish it qas still showing.
The show is really good. However the rating dropped due to commercials. Even a person is really into a show/ series. The commercial interpretation interferes. There’s plenty of shows that I’ve loved. However I’ve quit watching due to ads.
Katherine Morris….the most beautiful face in all of Hollywood should be on tv every night. AND the music editors should have won an emmy EVERY YEAR !!
Me and a friend are writing our own revival series set 12 years after the original show and featuring classic and new characters. We have almost completed a first season of 13 episodes and have outlines for up to five seasons planned at this time 🙂 If CBS won’t bring it back, we’ll do it ourselves!
I love love this show and wish it bring it back with the same cast I will keep my fingers crossed
I so love this show and was upset they took it off air can only find on roko now and I wish they would have kept it going love the cast as well the old and new
I’m upset they stop
I love cold case I watch it a lot I was hoping season 8 was coming up but till I find out it cancelled . I was upset and mad because I want to keep watching it and find out what happened next. Please make season 8