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 ONLY show I made a real point to watch. With so much drivel on the air,
I can’t believe a show with such good casting and clever filming was cancelled.
But then, it’s usually the good ones that are . . .
i’m pissed right off i was actually just checking to see if cbs was keeping the show on sunday nights and i assumed i would be watching it along with the amazing race. now what am i going to do?
Great show. Great music. Another blunder in CBS constant series of blunders. Some executives should be cancelled. Let’s all watch more “reality”shows. I’m going to puke.
Thanks to tnt for playing the reruns so I can still watch my favorite show.
I think cbs has made 2 very bad choices in canceling without a trace and cold case. I don’t care what new shows they replace them with they’ve July lost yet another loyal viewer.
I love Ghost Whisperer! I have all ways look for Fridays at 8:00 p.m. to see it. Now I see Med. that show is not as good as Ghost Whisperer no where near as good. If is not going to be on WBTV it need to be on another channel. It up seats me that it has been cancelled I was so looking forward to seeing it for the sixth season. and with out a trace cancelled too!!! What are you doing?????? All the good show are gone!!!!!!!!! I guess I will go to another channel!!!!!!!!! IT BREAKS MY HEART… Read more »
after years, i finally discovered cold case got into lilly and scotty’s life and they leave you with a void. networks.. their are a majority out there that do not watch sports, such as my family. we enj0y great television..boo to cbs-cut best shows….
I think it is very sad that an excellent series like Cold Case is being cancelled. Maybe the day and time should have changed so more fewers could watch it. I think this series was right up there with NCIS and CSI. Great shows but now one has to be let go so I guess CBS likes to let the viewers down. Also, there were times you would turn the television on and all because of a reality show, Cold Case was pushed to a later time because the show ran past what was scheduled. That didn’t help ratings and… Read more »
Cold Case had it all- great music, intriguing stories and a stellar cast. My whole family is sad to see that yet another good show has been trashed. It’s unfortunate that the network execs are willing to dump good shows and hold on to crap like the valueless reality shows that glut the airwaves.
It was bad enough that Without a Trace was taken off, now Cold Case. The problem with Cold Case in our area was the ballgames. Heaven forbid 60 Minutes ever be not shown in its entirety but when moving Cold Case to 10:00 we always had to tape it as with the ballgames it was always delayed. Such a shame that CBS lost 2 great shows in the past couple years now, canceled 3 Rivers and many other shows and on top of that Guiding Light and As the World Turns. It almost makes me want to search out other… Read more »
I’ll miss Cold Case. It was one of my husband’s favorites, too. I think it’s hard to keep a loyal audience when viewers cannot depend on the air time, due to football. 🙁
super upset that the show is left as that, cold case was on for more then just a ‘trial run’ period, really??? super high climax and no finish but shows on CBS can start shows like ‘defenders’?? shame on bureaucratic networks…. like politicians…. ‘listen to the people?? but don’t ever ASK the people! and how much does it cost CBS to start a new series vs. finishing one ???? where is your bottom line really??? entertain people… but it really comes down to NETWORKS making money…. hope it was a whole lot more! BOO TO CANCELING COLD CASE… get me… Read more »
All these insipid reality shows that aren’t even “reality” and they remove a great series like Cold Case. I’m watching less and less network shows.
I loved this show. It was hust on the wrong night. You know what people are like when football season starts.
Really sad to see this show cancelled. It was one of the best with a stellar cast.
All we get is more and more garbage “reality” shows. I guess viewership numbers don’t lie. Sure makes you wonder where peoples’ tastes are. I’ll listen to more recorded music and watch less TV. The commercials were mostly intolerable anyway!