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.
this was one of my favorite shows. cbs you blew it on this one. it was hard to catch on sundays because of the football games runing over, you should have moved it to another night. this show had great actors, great storyline… i looked forward to it every week. then i check to see when it will start for this season and you cancelled it??? you put on william shatner’s show which is not funny at all and undercover boss. please bring this show back and put in on a different night.
I agree with the above replys. I too finally went on line to find Cold Case had been cancelled. I at first thought maybe it would be back after the first of the year. I guess not. No wonder standard tv is losing viewership and everyone is going to cable shows.
It seems to me that every good show, that provides good story lines get cancelled. I cried at the end of every epsiode because the characters came to life.
Cold Case files should of never been cancelled. This was one of the best shows of tv. The creative outlook of the show was one the best ive seen in years. The direction these stations are taking towards reality tv is making viewers like my self not even watch not even want turn on the tv. I am 31 years old I am sick and tired of seeing all these reality shows on every station now. They didnt even give the show a chance to build up their viewers. I hope another station picks the show up. Dam another one… Read more »
There is nothing worth watching on Sunday night anymore. I am tired of Reality Shows, and football games. I enjoyed watching Cold Case. How about another night?
Girl i said the commnent how about another night. I cant believe they cancelled my favorite show. Now all we have are reruns. This is the most disappointed ive been in longtime about a tv show being cancelled.
I feel the same way. Cold Case was the show I looked forward to seeing and not uncover boss, really???
I think cbs made a big mistake cancelling cold case! I think they could have changed the night or maybe did more advertising, even had special guest to recruit more veiwers! I’ve looked week after week for new episodes but I guess I can stop looking now. This is rediculous!
As usual, money not common sense and good quality shows, rules at CBS. The channels are full of reality garbage shows and more and more graphic shots. Cold Case was a well written and acted show. Another thing that is total nonsense is demographics. Do they think older people don’t watch TV? They probably watch it more. The time slot with football or something else always running way over kills anything in that time slot. Try getting rid of a stupid reality show or sit com and move a good show to a good time slot. Think I will go… Read more »
I can’t believe Cold Case was canceled!!! I kept waiting to see when it would start this season and finally looked on line. I can’t believe you brought back Undercover Boss. Anyone who believes these employees don’t know their boss is working with them is an idiot, especially after one season of watching it. There is no surprise. Big mistake!!!
Typical CBS. Never forgave them for canceling Moonlight, and now this. At least Cold Case got 7 seasons, and that’s more of a chance than they give most other shows that deserve a shot, but no DVD? Eh, without this show, and without Moonlight and Without a Trace, I’m just not going to bother watching this station anymore. They seem to get rid of anything I happen to like. And what is this demographic information? How do they get that info? I wasn’t polled on what I watch. I’ve never know anyone who ever was in my entire life. How… Read more »
Please pass the comments on to the brilliant CBS people who cancelled one of the few quality programs on network television. I do not fall into the favored demographics, but guess what? Older people spend money too! At least you have a couple of good programs left with The Good Wife and 60 Minutes.
Loved this show…..I always had it on DVR to tape because I also am a big football fan! I missed the episode many times due to that reality show that kept overlapping the time slot….I am sure most people who were trying to tune in could not find the show and hence would keep surfing……by the way….I hated the reality show………I think you should have at least tried a different night/ time slot…………this was a great show…..loved the cast…they clicked……very disappointed in the decision to cancel it…….
Cold Case was one of my favorite shows. Due to NFL football going over the time allotted, it was very hard to figure out what time Cold Case would be on. I liked to DVR it, but it was never on at the scheduled time. I think if CBS had scheduled it for a different night they wouldn’t have cancelled it. I dislike the Amazing Race and CSI;Miami, how about canceling those?
Not sorry to see it go. I was one of the early season viewers. The scripts for the first two seasons were great. However, somewhere in season three it began to degenerate. I don’t know who the writers were, but it got to a point where is seemed the only murders ever committed had something to do with some kind of misogyny, racism or homophobia. Just got sick and tired of the leftwing bent of the program.
Get a grip Matt! Why does politics have to come into every subject. The show is fiction.
How is it that a group of highly paid, college educated people sitting around an executive meeting decides to toss out the “best” TV show on Sunday night ~ and not realize what all loyal viewers of COLD CASE tearing their robes off with their teeth in frustration already knew ? The demographics and ratings were dropping because of your crappy reality show running OVER every episode, (so what’s that all about ?) as well as NFL’s big money domination of Sunday nights. That doesn’t even take into consideration the competition and every pre-emption of every Award Show known to… Read more »
I kept looking in the new lineup on Sunday night for my favorite series, Cold Case. I must have missed the announcement saying it was cancelled. I am so upset. I watch very little series TV and this was one of my favorites! I beleive that the scheduling of Sunday night sports was problematic for many regularly scheduled programs. Did we really need another football game?? It may or may not have helped the ratings to have moved it to another night but I think CBS could have at least tried that instead of cancelling it outright!! CBS has very… Read more »