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.
THE WORST DECISION EVER!!! I just knew that I would have a great Sunday line-up with CSI:Miami and Cold Case being back to back. I really wish that they’d reconsider.
The ratings dropped cuz the Sunday Night time slot stunk….Week after Week it ran late because of Football…….Should have moved it to Saturday Night or any other night instead of Sunday!!!
What?! No more Cold case! I’m so disappointed and sad 🙁 I love the show its one of the shows I look forwars on Sundays. I don’t get it, they cancel shows that is worth watching and they promote shows that are stupid, silly. All I knw is I’m not goin to support CBS by watching any of their new fall shows.
I can’t believe the show is cancelled it is the only series I watch regularly and we can’t get it on DVD. How can we change that. I stopped watching Without a trace a while ago and can’t believe the thought it was better than cold case.
We are so disappointed that Cold Case is being canceled. We would look forward to watching it every Sunday as a family. Please bring it back! We love Cold Case!
The best show. My only regret is that I started watching it only three years ago…..
I, too, am VERY upset that Cold Case will not be on anymore!! It was one of my favorite shows…maybe CBS needed to market it a little better if the ratings dropped. Another great show gone (BTW-Loved Without a Trace, too!) …and all of that other crap is still on!! So frustrated with the quality of shows and choices available…and they take the good ones off the air!!
I agree with kathy you ugys just got rid of one of the good shows on tv. All these people in there 20’s and younger want to see reality TV instead of stuff worth watching so youy guys take it off the air so the people like us cant watch a show we really liked what the hell come on now. They also cancelled the Forgotten and that was a damn good tv show as well. If the want to watch reallity tv look out your window or go to a friends house and watch their lives so CBS and… Read more »
Is CBS crazy. Cold Case was one of the best shows on TV. I looked forward to each episode. Going to miss it.
Sorry to see this show go as it was interesting and had a plot. There is very little to watch on sunday evening now, only sixty minutes.
Wow!!! How can they do away with one of the best shows on TV. Change the night. It really sucked that it had to follow football and got pushed back so much – then they changed the time to 10. There is so little on TV today worth watching and they just got rid of one of the best. Way to go CBS!! Ya got stupid again.
I am really mad and sad that Cold Case was canceled. It was a good show, and one of the few quality shows on tv. People are more interested in reality shows, like those with Kate, the Kardashians, with Gene Simmons, and for some unthinkable reason, those shows get more ratings than the equality shows do. I say get a petition up on Facebook to bring Cold Case back!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m shocked and disappointed. Cold Case was one of my favorites. It was part of my Sunday night weekend wind down. Hey CBS! I won’t be watching Undercover Boss or Big Brother or any other of your ridiculous “reality” shows. Won’t be watching CSI Miami either.
you are so right those shows are ridiculous and stupid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So sorry to see cold case end. We looked forward to every episode, which we can’t say
About many shows,
The best show I was looking foward to it!