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.
Cold Case is one of the best detective shows on the air:
-great character development
-fantastic acting
-interesting locations in Philadelphia
-fascinating stories and concepts
-interesting switching between the past and present
-perfect choice of music each week
-great endings
It is one of the few shows that I watch entirely from beginning to end, as I don’t want to miss anything. So sorry to see it end.
They should have never canceled “WITHOUT A TRACE”! THEY SHOULD BRING IT BACK!!!
I am sorry to see Cold Case go. It was one of my favorite shows. However, it was in a position where it was either delayed or taken off because of special events. Most annoying was when shows ran over and you had to wait an additional 1/2 hour or more before it began. I think they could have placed it in another time slot and it would have been fine.
This was the DUMBEST decision CBS could have made! Sometimes the show would make me cry but that was the beauty of their drama plus if gave a LOT of work to older actors most of whom wouldn’t have work if not for this show. Let’s hope a smarter network like TNT or FX gets this gem back on the air where it belongs.
I hate to see this show benign canccled. I love the plots and the way the chacters interacted with each other. Bring it BACK!
I love Cold case. It has everything, great plots! Good individual characters each with
their own problems and personalities Cold Case and Numbers were your two best shows.
I also like that CBS has the fewest Reality Shows.
Hawaii 5_0? Who gives a rats ass! Why dont you bring back C.h.i.p.s while you are at it!
What the F… is CBS thinking about! I cannot believe that one of the best shows in the history of television,has been cancelled to be replaced by REALITY CRAP!!!If i want to watch,reality t.v.,ill stick my head out the window! Who made this decision? Fire him/her!
I don’t understand why CBS is cancelling Cold Case, Miami Medical, Ghost Whisper and Numbers. None of these shows should be cancelled. These shows are the best in their catagory and has had the audience to prove it. CBS just didnot give Miami Medical a chance at all and is wrong for cancelling Miami Medical before it had a chance to take off. Please reconsider these shows and leave them on the air. I sure hope another network picks up these shows because apparently CBS doesn’t know what they have.
Cold Case is one of the best written shows I’ve ever watched. The genius addition of the music and period pieces have made it such a hit. If another network doesn’t pick this up, they are IDIOTS. Maybe NBC will pick it up, after all it was getting MILLIONS to tune in. If the show is not picked up, it will definitely be missed. I sure hope it will be available on DVD soon.
Very upset to see Cold Case cancelled!! Just as I was truly starting to love the show, they cancel it. Figures. Grrrrrrrrrr.
I will truly miss Cold Case! Fast paced and interesting. Maybe that was why it was cancelled. Required the viewer to actually watch the entire show.
I enjoyed Cold Case. I think it was done with much accuracy and that in itself should keep it on air. Many of the younger generation have no clue as to how it was growing up 50 years ago. Sadly, when the boomers are gone, I think so will both the good and the bad but most of all real life. As a boomer, I cannot imagine anyone sitting in the house watching others life there life and call it entertainment. I refer to the survivors and who gets married to who. Go out and live life, don’t watch it… Read more »
im very sorry to see cold case canceled! Cold case was what i did every Sunday night, and i even watch the reruns on TNT everyday (Mon-Fri). i wish that they would make another season, but we dont always get what we want:( im hoping they will change their minds n realize how many people loved and watched Cold Case.
This is the 4 th series that CBS has canceled that I’m very very upset about! 1ST it was Without A Trace, then The Forgotten, then Miami Medical, now Cold Case!! YOU’RE CANCELING ALL MY FAVORITE SHOWS!! Gees guys, keep it up and I won’t watch you at all!!