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.
Are you kidding me? This show was one of few shows I’d call a favorite. I agree with other posts, I also DVR’d this show only to get home from work and find out that football ran over and messed up the time slot and I got 30-40% of the show recorded and the rest was Amazing Race. So needless to say, It wasn’t anyone’s fault but CBS’s for the ratings slump for the show, it SHOULD have been given a different day so people could watch it. I’m so not happy with this CBS!!
Well I am thoroughly disgusted with CBS — they never do anything good for their audience, unless it fits in their greedy bottom line.
You should have put it OPPOSITE Law & Order (on NBC) which was Tuesday or Wednesday at 10 pm — then it wouldn’t have been bumped back by other shows.
Disgusting move CBS…way to go… I will be sure to spread this truth to facebook connections (over 1500 so far) to boycott CBS because they put GREED over ENTERTAINMENT.
CBS, what is wrong with you, you get rid of all your hit shows..Oh well time to move on to other networks I guess….So when are you ending your CSI series since you get rid of your hit shows…
I agree move the show to another night our family loves this show it is the only show that I can say that I loved everyone.
How can you cancel a show because of ratings when it was never on at the right time? Amazing Race always took over the time slot.. if you want to run Amazing Race for 2 hours then put it for 2 hours, not Cold Case at 10pm and then doesnt come on till 11:15 ! I must admit many times I would get tired of waiting and say.. I’ll just watch the rerun. But, that is not the shows fault.. Cold Case is by far on of the best shows on the network.
Why cancel a show that always got bumped? I don’t understand how you can go by the ratings when it was never on because of Amazing Race taking over the time slot. If you want to run Amazing Race for 2 hours then put that on the time.. not Cold Case at 10 pm then not on till 11:15 ! Cold Case was one of the best shows on the network
I love Cold Case.. and I hate that it was cancelled. It was in a terrible time slot. Amazing Race should be 2 hours because it ALWAYS takes that long. Several times I would turn over to watch and Amazing Race still on.. if it is going to take over all the shows why not just cancel all the shows.
i loved Cold Case!! It was a wonderful crime show. I feel I have been cheated out of a final season where they could have brought the show to a conculsion. It was often late though because of football game which isn’t the shows fault. The music that was used in the shows was well chosen and time peroid perfect. I sure wish I could get DVD’s of each season but I know that is impossible. Please bring it back.
We both really looked forward to Cold Case and miss it this year after waiting patiently for the new season to start. So, we are quite disappointed that it’s not back, that and Without a Trace, another favorite. Fortunately, CSI Miami, our #1 favorite is still there and it looks like a winner still. But sorry to see “Jessie” go…on to better things?
movies?
Definitely agree B.J, Jerry Bruckheimer show was great, and the way the music complimented the plot was the unique quality of the show. Sure, Grey’s Anatomy and other shows use music in their dramas, but Bruckheiemer took it to another level by incorporating the ERA of the music as the story plot developed. Too cool. It’s a shame that music has been institutionalized. I totally understand why Prince wanted as much control of his music as possible; this show cannot even obtain syndication rights b/c of the wonderful music featured on the show. The music companies should be grateful for… Read more »
I miss Cold Case. It sure beats The Defenders and Hawaii 5 O, which are both stinkers!
This is a wonderfully formatted crime mystery show. No other drama has a layout equal to the start and ending of the story. The team characters mesh well together in maintaining an continuing interest in the outcome of the story. I am sad to lose one of the really very well produced programs that adds to my tv enjoyment. However, it is always ratings and money that govern the tv powers that be, no matter how many viewers are tuned in. I can only hope CBS will reverse it’s decision to cancel Cold Case and give us fans another great… Read more »
Bring it back!!!! I love, love, love this show. The lack of viewings could have been from the over lapping of other shows. For example, thinking a show is coming on at 10, but the Amazing Race is STILL on during regular programmed shows or like tonight 10-10-10 CSI Miami should have been on at 10 but came on at 11 because of the Boss show (but the program guide said CSI should be on). Often times I have DVR’s Cold Case to miss the last 20minutes because some other show was STILL on and recorded. So I don’t think… Read more »
Cold Case was set up for failure when they moved it to Sunday nights and it was hard to catch an episode after the football games and othr shows that delayed Cold case. It was the best show ever and I think that they have made the worst mistake!
I could not agree more. Moving to Sunday night made it difficult to view the episodes–probably the reason for the low ratings.
Please bring Cold Case back. I miss it so much. I have watched the episodes from day 1. I have also watched all the re-run episodes. please please bring it back next season