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.
I was very sad to see that COLD CASE was cancelled.I was looking forward to watching it this season.I had to go online to find out that it was cancelled.this is the second tv show that i liked that was cancelled (LAW & ORDER)COLD CASE had there day &time changed a few time.And that makes it hard to keep track of your favorite shows.And u have no notice when it happens.I too like without a trace and i too was looking forword to watching that show.So out of four shows i have two that i still watch.You really need to… Read more »
I’M VER VERY VERY SAD IT’S GONG IT WAS THE ONLY COP SHOW I LIKED EVER
WHY DONT YOU MOVE TO MONDAYS AT 8PM NOW SUNDAY’S WILL BE BOREING
No COLD CASE? Lilly had a CAT! How can this show be cancelled?? I watched it with my human–took my mind off my human always trying to take my picture…I’m sad. I wish this would be picked up on another network. Any chance of that–they were good actors—for humans….
Noir
Defenitely need to bring it back! These shows they are putting on the air are horrible.
I’m very sorry to see this show go. I will now just go to bed after Undercover Boss 🙁 TNT here we come for re-runs
I am completely heart broken. I only DVR 2 shows. Cold Case and Medium. I think it would have been helpful to keep the show in one time slot, instead of moving it to a new night without much advertisement. I never saw but a couple of promos for this show. I think as NBC didn’t appreciate “Medium” and their ensemble maybe CBS doesn’t realize what a fantastic cast they have with “Cold Case”. I will miss the entire cast. I was invested in each and every one of them. I think it’s tragic their show won’t get the respect… Read more »
I love this show. However I think they should of gave it a proper series finale.
Huh
Omg, I can not believe COLD CASE is cancelled. It was an excellent show and I always looked forward to Sunday nights. They should have considered moving it to another night and time before cancelling it. Instead they put all these reality shows on. Who cares. Now I see there is one about a polygamist on TLC , I just read it in People magazine. How far will the networks go. But you will take off a good show like “COLD CASE” . I hope you will reconsider it and put it back on even if it is on another… Read more »
I MISS THE SHOWS SO MUCH…I WAS WAITING FOR THE NEW SEASONS…..COLD CASE, GHOST WHISPERER ………………….:(
In my opinion COLD CASE was an excellent, and entertaining series. We always looked forward to each episode. I wish that it could have been moved to another night and given a different time before cancelling it. Previously it followed 60 MINUTES,and from what I read it had a better rating. Then, it seems the time would be pushed to a later one, due a special presentation” or not be on at all. Finally, it was pushed to 10p.m. or 11p.m. which caused the ratings to fall. Another consideration was that it was competing with football. I am not bashing… Read more »
I loved the hiostorical perspective of the show, I should stop watching scripted network television. My favorite shows,Earl,Smackdown,Conan,and Cold Case wither get the ax or get cheated by Jay Leno(and I throw Earl in that second catagory)
COLD CASE was my favorite show. I think something else should have been axed instead. Instead of staying up to watch it on Sunday night, I just go to bed. There are too many of those ridiculous reality shows on TV these days. A little of them goes a long ways for me.
I am sorry to hear the show canceled. It was one my favorites.
I really loved Cold Case. The writing and the acting were great. I loved how you wove the past and the present into a revealing tapestry. Sorry to see it go.