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.
CBS programming killed the show. It was never on at the right time due to programming delays from Football and Amazing Race. It was a great show that was impossible to sit down and watch at the time it was suppose to be on.
I loved Cold Case. Unfortunately, I did not discover the show until the 3rd or 4th season. I have tried to watch all of the reruns when ever they are on. I will miss the show.
I think Cold Case was one of the best tv shows on the air. I can think of countless shows that should be axed. How I met your mother, The Mentalist, Medium….. House. All are crappy shows. CBS take your thumb out of your_____ and keep shows that are worth watching. That show (Cold Case) was the only reason I watched your crappy network. DO the right thing for once you network bigwigs and earn the over inflated paycheck you get.
This is completely BOGUS. This was a great show with awesome music and the cool flashbacks made it interesting. I can watch reruns over and over and it never fails to suck me in. CBS can suck my balls!
yes, putting the best CBS show on at 10 on Sun. night was a mistake……..having to tape it each week because it was on too late. We didn’t want to have to sit through Amazing Race every week after the games!……..what was good about this show is that we liked EVERY character…….not just Lily and her personal stories but Scotty and all the others, too……..what a disappointment when I just got the new TV schedule and looked to see where they had changed my show THIS time and it wasn’t there. But OH, we have added THREE more sitcoms………..c’mon. At… Read more »
I think that it was one of the best shows on television and it could definitely have new story lines with different actors acting with the original cast. The time of the show was in a good slot. I feel heartbroken that it is not returning. The show touched your heart mentally and spiritually like no other show on television.
So, you want to know what I think? I think you made a HUGE mistake canecelling Cold Case! It was a great show! Why can’t you keep a unique drama like Cold Case? Shame on you for caring more about the almight buck than your loyal viewers! Bring Cold Case back!
I think the problem was that it came on after the football games and the Amazing Race. By the time both of them were over, it was late by the time Cold Case came on. It’s a Sunday night and people have to go to work the next day.
I can’t belive it! Cold Case is my favourite TV series, and I will miss it dearly on Sunday evenings. I still watch the re-runs. I’m not sure what CBS could have done differently. The show had lots of suspense & surprises, and I loved all the characters. I sure hope it comes back!
Sorry I meant CBS you suck.
This sucks I loved Cold Case while my husband watched Sunday Night Football I was watching Cold Case. Maybe if Amazing Race didn’t cut into Cold Case’s time slot it wouldn’t be cancelled. CBC you suck!!!!
I love the show because going back in time to solve gold case of crime. Change the hours that the show was on, was to late (10:00) I would tape the show and watch it later. I will miss this show very much. I hope in put in reruns. You should put this show back on the air
If new shows had been put together you might could have saved this series but it was the same over, over, over & again. I love the show & would love to see it come back. I know someone could write some new scripts.
moveing the show to a new night would be a good thing i love that show i hop it come back.
they should of did what law and order did add interesting characters like they have that one comedian from the first tansformers, or like they added ice t to the scene spice it up people get tired of looking at the same folks over and over again.