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.
Great. Now they are cancelling the best show. Come on CBS just play Cold Case. Almmost everybody loves cold case!!!
Let’s not forget the over 49 demographics. I used to watch only two shows a week . . . Law & Order SVU and COLD CASE. What the heck? So how do all of us over 49 y/o demographics figure into the ratings? Why don’t advertisers do there own canvasing of where they should sink their advertising $$$ into so they can see what “WE” really think about what is on tv? Anyone have any ideas? Just when Lily was going to have what appeared to have a decent love interest! An unwritten ending we can only dream about. Or… Read more »
I agree with all the posts, How could CBS do this? No closure and the best writing of stories.. Definitely will be missed.
I have been waiting for Cold Case to be back on the air until now when I googled the schedule to find out it was canceled. I liked the show very much and will watch it on syndication here in Atlanta.
i just found out that CBS’s COLD CASE has been cancelled. That was really a dumb thing to do!!
I loved that show. It is way been better than the corny csi shows.i really looked forward to watching it every sunday
I agree with everyone else. They shouldn’t have canceled the show, they should have moved it to a new time. It was a rare show the my husband and I agreed on, but with football on Sundays we couldn’t stay up that late to watch it since we both work early in the morning. This sucks!
“Cold Case” was one of the best shows on television. I can’t believe that they cancelled it. Why not cancel some of the stupid reality shows instead! Please bring “Cold Case” back!!
This SUCKS!!! Cold Case was well-done from top to bottom. The writing was fabulous, those story lines were amazing, the music was always dead on, and it was different from any other crime show I’ve seen. As a Philadelphian, I can appreciate how well the actors accurately pronounced the wide range of odd-sounding towns, streets & sections of Philadelphia. So sad to see such a great show off the air. People most definitely missed out if they never watched it and the execs clearly effed up!
another good show bites the dust! while “reality shows” stay on the air. thank god for tmc, and TV land.
Cold Case was one of my favorite shows. If I wasn’t home to watch I recorded it. Maybe if it wasn’t opposite Sunday Night Football it would have a better chance.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER WRITTEN A COMMENT REGARDING ANY TELEVISION PROGRAM: Cold Case is one of the best tv shows I’ve ever watched. The cast was wonderful. Morris, Pino, Barry, Thoms, Ratchford and my favorite Finn (he’s sexy) are wonderful actors. I sincerely hope that CBS will reconsider this decision and bring back one of the most realistic shows on television. We need more realism and CLASS, not boring TRASH…CBS!! Now I only watch your channel once a week for NCIS. I hope the cast will find great success in their future roles. LILY, SCOTTY, VERA,… Read more »
Way to go CBS…..cancel a quality show like Cold Case, and keep the trash like Medium!! Done with this network!
So, CBS has done it again. This was my absolute favorite show, but with it airing after football, it was hard to even set the DVR to record. Instead of canceling your quality shows, why don’t you try moving it do a different night, where fans may actually have gotten to watch it in it’s entirely.
I am so distraught….this was my favorite show on TV and one of the very few TV shows that actually had you use your brain. How will we ever know if Lily gets closure with her family issues? Huge mistake CBS. Now I have no reason to watch you at all. You just lost 1 of your precious 18-49 demographic.