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.
With so few programs of value on Network TV, I am so disappointed that Cold Case has been cancelled. It was one of my favorite shows.
CBS! You stink! How could you cancel Cold Case???? It’s the only tv show I watch!!!!!!
I liked Cold Case and looked forward to watching it on Sunday evenings. The last episode from the spring left us all in suspense! I don’t care for any of the other CBS shows. I have been hoping they would pull off some loser shows they now are airing and bring the premiere of Cold Case back soon. How disappointing!
Can’t believe the show got cancelled. This was one of my favorite shows. One of the Sunday things that I looked forward to before going back to work Monday morning. With out a Trace was also a favorite. Not sure what CBS is thinking…or are they? Very, very disappointing.
Cold Case was my favorite show!! I can’t believe you cancelled it!! Big mistake!!
So ignorant…I really thought that the execs could be able to figure out that it was the basketball and football that lost the viewership of Cold Case. Not everyone has a DVR and not everyone can stay up to nearly 12am and wait for the ending to find out what “whodunit”. I really loved this show. My husband and I do have a Sunday night lineup. Cold Case was in our 10pm slot. But I have a daughter I need to get to school every AM and I cant stay up til’ 12+ AM . That is why you lost… Read more »
I agree. This was a great show. I can’t believe they cancelled………………and I had to search for the information. I had been checking CBS website hoping to see when the season premiere was too begin. They could have at least put in the website. I will miss it.
My husband and I totally loved “Cold Case”! It was our favorite Sunday
nite show to watch! We are so sad…
Oh my gosh….. CBS is ******** up big time in my opinion. Between cancelling 2 of the best daytime soaps they have now cancelled two of evenings best shows, Without a Trace and Cold Case! Come on CBS – u are soon to be cancelled from my TV
best show on tv
I have been wondering why I have been unable to locate the Cold Case series in the listings. I had only been able to find old stories. I am very angry and disappointed to find out, this evening that this awesome series has been canceled. I looked forward to watching it every Sunday (when it wasn’t replace with d***** sports). This was very aggravating. I truly miss the series. I WANT IT BACK.
I LOVED that show so much. Please bring it back.
Why in the world did you do such a stupid thing! Bring Cold Case back. Lose Undercover Boss & the Amazing Race. Everyone has their own reality. Put Cold Case in a different time slot but don’t cancel it. While your at it bring back Without a Trace. What next to be cancelled, The Mentalist, All the CSI’s & Criminal Minds? Are your intentions to become an all reality show station? Well if that is the case you can rest assure that you will lose millions of viewers. I hope your ready for that!
I was so looking forward to season 8. I’ve been looking for it this fall and finally I find out you cancelled it. NO! I didn’ t like it when you cancelled it for a sports event. You kept doing that and then you wonder why your viewership slips. Why don’t you do it to some of your other crappy shows instead? Bring it back. I want to know what happens to Lilly, her sister and the baby!!!!
I’m sure the time slot is the reason why the ratings when down. People probably got fed up on trying to figure out if would come on or not because of sports(Remember the “Soul” episode debacle?). If they would just move it to another uninterrupted time slot, I know the ratings would go back up. At least people would be able to record it with a clear conscious. One of the biggest mistakes CBS has made. I now have no reason to watch CBS anymore….