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.
Well this sucks! I loved this show I have been a faithful viewer of this show from the beginning and was waiting on the new season had no idea it was cancelled. CBS has made a huge mistake as well as NBC for cancelling the original Law and Order nothing to watch on T.V now!!!
I didn’t know until tonight Cold Case was cancelled. I loved the show, not only b/c I live in Philadelphia and was happy to see city scenes. yes, it was well-acted and well scripted, but my favorite part was that it showed life as the continuum of time, much like Billy Pilgrim’s getting unstuck in time. I’ll miss it. Stupid CBS – how many CSI’s do you need???
I am very disappointed that Cold Case was cancelled. It fought a hardy battle of delayed programming for one thing after another, such as football games that ran over the allotted time, 60 Minutes, preemption for political announcements, and you name it. Something with intrigue, good acting and story lines, is cancelled and other mindless shows are kept on the screen.
How can a poll be done when the average viewer can,t see the show???
I love the show but had to stop watching it last year because the television station kept messing with the times!!! I would turn it on and then some reality show would be on and the show would start like 20 minutes late or there would be a football game and it would start 40 minutes late. I finally just gave up and figured I would watch it on reruns. Then they even messed that up. Now it’s cancelled due to poor veiwership – well no wonder – they never started the show on time.
I hate to see Cold Case go off the air. It was a wonderful show. The stories were always good and the acting was great. I just don’t understand why they pull the good shows off and leave us with CRAP!!!!! Thank God for reruns, maybe I will catch one that I haven’t seen before!!!!!
I loved the show and have been waiting for it to start up again. I think that a different night might have helped the ratings. I didn’t know that they were having problems with the ratings though. Every time I love a show it gets cancelled. I am still not over Nash Bridges getting axed.
R U PEOPLE NUTS!!!!!!!!!!! THIS SHOW IS GREAT I AM PISSED OFF!!!!!!!! U ALL SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So disappointed… My husband and I looked forward to Cold Case every week. Maybe with enough comments, the show will return.. We still watch the re-runs. Keeping our fingers crossed for a return of the show..
We really enjoyed the show. I think one of the main problems was Sunday Football because sometimes the show came on later than scheduled. If the game runs late, then 60 Minutes runs late and whatever follows runs late. I think that really hurts a show.
Cold Case was my favorite show. I really hope you re-consider putting it back on the air.
Long running football games may have contibuted to this progame demise.
I am really sorry to see it go. I loved the music and the way you had an opportunity to figure out if YOU could figure out how the crime happened. I was also glad it that it didn’t include all the blood and gore of some of the CSI type of shows. It was more cerebral than violent. I also thought the case was not the usual clan of “good looking people”. They were much more realistic. It’s too bad that the network was so myopic at looking at age distribution. There are those of who are older than… Read more »
I love this show, but found it hard to keep up with as it seldom started on time. CBS kept changing the times, and with golf, other sports, it was never on the clock correctly.
Boring reality shows and the nets wonder why they are losing watchers.
I’m so sorry Cold Case is no longer on t.v. It was well-written and
the actors were wonderful. All the good shows seem to get cancelled!
Cold Case was one of my favotite shows. I can’t believe the network kept Medium and cancelled Cold Case. It seems like all the good shows are getting the axe!!..The cheesy reality shows are taking over.