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 agree–putting this on after football made it hard to watch, because you never know when the games will end. I even tried to DVR it, but even then, it could start at so many different times. And am I wrong, or was there no series finale? A great show like this really deserves a finale–it’s sad that it just ended with no fanfare. I didn’t even know–I kept waiting for it to start up again, and nothing. It’s very disappointing. It’s getting to the point that I have very few reasons to have any channels beyond cable; there is… Read more »
I think it sad that CBS has cancelled a series that was fabulously written and instead chose to keep reality garbage on their channel. CBS continues to make more mistakes. Maybe we should be cancelling the people in charge of putting these shows on that have no quality to them and taking away the ones that are entertaining. STUPID MOVE CBS
I’ve been waiting for the new season to air, and then get this depressing news. Boo you, CBS! First Without a Trace and now Cold Case?! You couldn’t have bumped one of the umpteen reality shows instead? Don’t even think of taking my Mentalist away!
ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? This is my favorite show. I can’t believe you will put all of this other CRAP reality shows and such and you cancel one of the best shows of all time!!!! I have every single season in my pc, including season 7 and watch them every night before bed. You just ruined my day CBS and I will do whatever it takes not to ever watch your station again, EVER! Without a Trace lost it’s luster , not cold case BIG MISTAKE
Marie A, I agree with you. The football games are constantly running late, and you never new when Cold Case would be on. CBS assumes that everyone wants to watch football!!! When CBS brings on a football game at 3:00pm and they expect the game to be over at 7:00 pm, I think that shows it is time for some new employees at CBS. Now, they have moved CSI Miami to Cold Case’s old time slot. So, fans of CSI Miami, don’t be surprised if this is the last season of that show also. On Sunday nights, I now make… Read more »
With the football games always running over their time slot, you could never really tell what time the show would run, it’s no wonder the viewing numbers declined. It’s too bad the networks keep dropping good drama shows, because what we are left with is stupid sitcoms which are an insult to our intelligence or maybe these shows are popular because we have become an unintelligent society.
This was one of the most creative shows of its type on tv. I looked forward to it each week. It was the one of the very few crime programs that didn’t have the lead female detective in seductive clothing. She & the rest of the cast regulars looked more like authentic professionals. It also had a a good cross section of ages. I thought when CBS started bouncing the show into different time slots, they were ready to give it the axe. CBS Programming should be ashamed of removing quality shows.
Cold Case was a wonderful show. It had really good acting, really good writing, fantastic sound track, and powerful messages. I can’t believe it has slipped away like this! This was the only TV show I regularly watched. Whatever CBS’s bottom line is, it’s not providing quality television for discerning viewers.
Please bring back Cold Case!
Another bad choice by CBS!!
i am soo not happy about cold case canceling!!! I eagerly watched every episode sunday nights! i even had it dvr’d incase i wouldnt be home. this is a total shocker to me they should have done more to save it. its hard enough to find a good show on t.v. now a days. now that my favorite show is no longer on CBS I am not happy with this decision!!!
I can’t believe they cancelled my FAVORITE show!!!!! I never missed an episode. My whole family is avid viewers. IS THERE ANY WAY TO GET THIS SHOW BACK ON THE AIR?????
you should never had changed the time of the show….i miss it very much~ and then it got replaced w/ undercover boss~ couldn’t that show be on another date or time….geesh
Shame on CBS…this was a great program. The story plots were wonderful. As usual you dump shows for the dollar not what the viewers want…shame on you!!
I AM BUMMED!!!!! All these other LOSER shows out there still running but not the only show that I took the time to sit down and watch from start to finish. It also bums me out that I can’t buy the dvd’s and it never seems to be on so I can catch the reruns. THIS SUCKS>>>
I am really bummed out, Cold Case was one of my favorite shows. I never missed an episode, I can’t believe it’s over.