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.
 Loading ... |
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’m just now learning that Cold Case will not be on this season. Bummer!! CBS made a big mistake in cancelling Without a Trace and is now compounding the mistake by cancelling Cold Case. It seems that moving it to another night would have solved the problem. Far too often it came on late because of football which quite often meant that I was unable to watch it. It was very frustrating and aggravating. I’m sure I was not the only viewer to experience that!
Love this show as well as Without a trace. What is happening here? Hasnt Cold Case revived “real” cold cases?
I too just found out by reading the fall lineup that this show was canceled. CBS, you’re making the same mistake NBC made with canceling Southland. Hopefully, TNT will pick it up. No wonder there’s more shows worth watching on cable than network TV!
I’m just sad! They killed my favorite show on TV. I’ll miss you Lilly!
I was just checking the fall line up and saw Cold Case was canceled! I can NOT believe it! You are so correct Jeanmarie about football causing the time of the show to change every Sunday. Now I’ve lost Moonlight, Life and now Cold Case. Maybe I should let the TV channels know what other shows I love so they can cancel them too! Whats worse with some is they leave you hanging with no closing.
I just checked the fall schedule to see if Cold Case was still on Sunday Night. UPSET does not cover how we feel about losing Lily and the guys. The only shows we watch on CBS are Survivor, Big Brother, Two and a Half Men and Cold Case. One down, three to go. We mostly watch cable channels now. The Closer, Ax Men, Pickers, Deadliest Catch, Southland (which was on network), Damages, things like that…! You networks had better be rethinking your strategy about TV. The public wants good programing, real drama that makes you think. Most of the junk… Read more »
CBS DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO LINE-UP THEIR SHOWS AND ALL THE NEWS SHOWS SCHEULED THIS SEASON WILL FAIL. I NO LONGER WATCH CBS I LIKE THE SHOWS ON TNT MUCH BETTER.
ITS A SHAME. THAT WAS ONE OF THE BESTS SHOW OF T.V.
Tremendously disappointing. CBS seems to be making some absolutely horrid programing choices. (At least they’re keeping Medium, so there’s that.).
Yes, this seemed to be a problem with the football conflict. I wish they’d given it a shot on a different night (not the terminal Friday!).
On the upside, now CBS has more room for crappy, horrible reality shows and unwatchable sitcoms. Go CBS go.
I AGREE WITH YOU ALL THOSE NEW SHOWS WILL FAIL. COLD CASE WAS A GREAT SHOW THEY WILL REGRET IT THEIR RATING FOR ALL OF THEIR SHOWS WILL GO DOWN
The show got lost because of the football games going over – Should have put in a different time slot. Best show on TV Big mistake to cancel
I am truly disappointed that the series has been canceled 🙁
Just another example of a quality show biting the dust because it’s not a “block buster”.
I think the people who cancel these shows have tunnel vision. All they see are $ signs. If it’s not at one of the VERY top slots, can it. Incredible.
I think that if they would have moved it to a different night it would have worked. They put it on Sunday night and often times it was delayed because of football, amazing race, etc. Sometimes it got started at 10 instead of 9, sometimes it just didn’t come on because it ran up to the news. This was very poor planning on their part. Personally, i don’t like CSI Miami and they put it on in Cold Case’s place. Guess I won’t be watching CBS on Sunday nights. I also think they should figure out what the problem is… Read more »
Way to go CBS, just learned of the cancelation. This was one of your better shows. Who makes the decisions to cancel certain shows? Fire Them!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CANDI THE IDIOTS THEY HAVE IN CHARGE THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING COLD CASE AWESOME SHOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My favorite show!! WHY, CBS, WHY!??! Is there any way it could be salvaged in the same way that Designing Women was salvaged? Letter writing campaign needed, folks!