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’ve been waiting for Cold Case to start. I can’t believe it has been canceled. They could have at least tried a different night. I thought it was one of the best shows CBS has.
Too bad, great show, loved it all. What killed it was football. You’d have to dvr two hours to try to get one show during the nfl season – a different night might have been worth a try for a series that had shown such strength.
Cold case was one of the best “who dunnit” dramas on TV. I LOVED that show. CBS needs to bring it back! Maybe another network could pick it up (helloooo NBC?!!!) And oh, by the way my wife and I are in the target demographic (early 40’s) with lots of disposable income to spend on advertisers products.
I’m studying History of TV and TV Programming as a grad student at TCU. Learning very quickly that, in the end, it’s all about money. Networks will leave quality shows on so long as they get the right demographics to generate the ad revenue they are looking for even when the Nielson share is not that great. This is what happened in the early 80s with NBC and Hill St Blues and St. Elsewhere. In light of this, I’m actually amazed that Cold Case lasted 7 full seasons. Still, Sunday night will never be the same. Will miss this great… Read more »
It should be given another chance. One of the best shows on TV, bring cold CAse back.
I think Sunday night football hurt cold case, I think a new night.
I miss Cold Case very much…it was different than the other police shows because it focused on the often forgetten “cold cases.” I enjoyed the flashback to the past. Sorry to see it go. I hate the “new” thing they are doing where they put a couple of new shows on at the beginning of the season and then jump into re-runs immediately. I have stopped watching several shows because of this. You get excited to see a new show after a summer of re-runs, then you turn on the show expecting an exciting new episode just to see a… Read more »
This was one of my favorite shows! I am very disappointed that it will not be coming back! I am also disappointed Ghost Whisperer won’t be back, they didn’t finish what they started!
I really miss Cold Case. It was one of the few interesting shows on. I could not always see it at its time slot but always had it recorded so I could see it when I had time. CBS made a poor decsion.
Cold Case was such a good show; why is it that the smart, interesting shows are the ones cancelled and the completely stupid one are the ones that are kept. No wonder viewership decreases. Cold Case had good acting, great music, a good story line, and often a message that is so often issing form main stream television. Shame of CBS.
My husband and I agree with all the above comments. Why not at least try another night. For exanple Wednesday night. We also expected more of CBS!!
I have watched “Cold Case” for years. CBS has cancelled several shows VERY uncerimonially and without much class. I expect more of CBS.
I cannot believe that cold case has been cancelled,it was 1 of my favourite shows ever. Ilove lots of the american shows csi’s,criminal minds, medium, ghost whisperer and medium but cold case was always my favourite.Please reconsider…thank you.
I just thought it was getting a late start this fall. This was probably my favorite show. I loved the way the show portrayed things from the past, especially the one set in the 40’s and 50’s. Great show!
I miss Cold Case coming on. I watched it so much that I felt like they were family. Loved it. I enjoyed the whole concept of the going from past to present or vice versa.
Sorry to see a great show cancelled. Hope CBS reconsiders this.