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.
I can’t believe they canceled Cold Case. It such an awesome show. Perhaps viewing wouldn’t have fallen if sports weren’t constantly making Cold Case run late. It’s a shame it’s been canceled because it’s one of the best shows on.
They just cancelled one of the few shows that had an original idea to it. It spanned many decades of mysteries along with interesting characters. The cast was fabulous and writers were great story tellers. I loved the music that went along with each episode. There is so much reality on tv it was refreshing to watch a show that you could get into and try to solve.
Shame on CBS. Maybe part of the problem was it was always delayed by football games. Try giving it a shot on a different day.
I, too, am very upset at the cancellation of Cold Case. Cold Case has been a part of my Sundays since the first season when my Mom told me to watch the series. I often resisted my Mom’s advice because I don’t like to watch too many TV shows because a show can become habitual, but I truly enjoyed this show, the cast, storylines and music. It always amazed me how Cold Case was able to capture life as it was in the past and would bring back so many memories if they were of a time I experienced. The… Read more »
HAVE ALWAYS LOOKED FORWARD TO SUNDAY EVENINGS AND COLD CASE TV SHOW. THE STORIES HAVE BEEN GREAT. SO SAD TO SEE IT GO. HOPE SOME OTHER NETWORK PICKS IT UP.
CBS…you stink. You keep the crap shows and get rid of the good ones like Cold Cases and Without a Trace. I was furious when you cancelled Judging Amy because it dealt with real life juvenile cases. You are IDIOTS!!!!! If it were not for the CSI family and Criminal Minds I would kiss CBS goodbye! I might just do it anyway. There is always NBC,ABC and Fox. You can always down load the others and give the ratings to the networks that listen to their viewers you morons!!!!
Im so upset that cold case was cancelled it is the best show on Sunday nite. I hope that TNT pick it up CBS is crazy to cancelled this one.
The cancellation of Cold Case is a huge disappointment. I hear that TNT could pick the show up, if it hears enough from fans. Writing form letters that you email to friends who change as they see fit, print and send could move this process along quickly and allow the networks to see the strong and loyal following that Cold Case has. Be proactive and DON’T give up! There IS strength in numbers! Write to TNT as follows: TNT 1010 Techwood Dr. NW Atlanta GA 30318, Call:Viewer Comment and Question Line is 404-885-4538. NBC 3000 W ALAMEDA AVE. LOS ANGELES,… Read more »
Cold Case was one of my favorites, along with Without a Trace. No doubt, the replacement will be another reality show, because there aren’t enough of them on TV. Reality or sports–great choices, CBS.
COLD CASE WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE BETTER SHOWS ON T.V. CBS DOESN’T HAVE A CLUE AS TO WHAT PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO WATCH. WITH ALL THOSE SILLY REALITY SHOWS,IT WAS RATHER REFRESHING ,I LOOKED FORWARD TO WATCHING IT EVERY SUNDAY NIGHT.
I heard that people are emailing TNT to get them to pick up cold case. I think fans shoould continue to do this along with a petition.
I am really disappointed that CBS has cancelled another good series. The reason that ratings drop is that during football season Cold Case comes on so late and if you want to set your DVR you could not always get the whole show. I thought I had set it right but the last few minutes were always cut off. The premise of this show is unique and should have been in a better time slot. When you continually preempt a show to put on a special you lose your audience.
I always enjoyed watching Cold Case and liked seeing how the the writers incorporated period music and clothing into the show. I will really miss this show and am angry that CBS has decided to cancel two of my favorite shows. Obviously they do not want my viewership.
I love Cold Case and I think its CBSs fault the ratings have gone down. Airing on Sunday night the show lacks consistency. There are multiple days that the show starts 30 minutes late due to previous shows. Give it a Wednesday slot and see what happens!
I enjoyed the show, but recent seasons had been a letdown as the writers seemed to run out of ideas. Many stories had huge logic gaps, and they came to rely too much on the “killed accidentally by someone who loved him or her” gimmick. The cast was good, but not great (and, frankly, Kathry Morris was often boring), and the strength of the show was in the flashbacks to the past. When that well ran dry, there was nothing to support the ratings. It’s had a good run, longer than most shows, but it was time to go. Too… Read more »
I respect your opinion, and I agree…the shows strength was the flashbacks…that was the premise of the entire show. It should be the focus. Maybe new writers are what are needed. This show was the pioneer (besides the Cold Case series on A&E), and many others followed. I also appreciated the fact that the case they were working on remained the focus of the show, it never became more about who was sleeping with who in the squad….Each character flawed in some way, like life. As far as “logic gaps”…. If logic was the core reason to watch any show,… Read more »
I am very upset at the cancellation of Cold Case. I have been a faithful watcher since the first episode. It is one of a handful of shows that has been consistently worth watching. I look forward to Sunday night and Cold Case. I have many family members that are equally upset. We watch the show Sunday,and meet for dinner Wednesday, and it always is a topic of discussion. It is tasteful, unique, meaningful, and so enjoyable to watch. I intend to let my feelings known to CBS. I hope others do the same. What shall they replace it with?…..let… Read more »