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.
Cold Case was one of my favorite shows, loved the stars,music and stories. I will miss it.
ditto…great show….stupid network execs
CBS shouldn’t have canceled this show!! We watched Cold Case regularly as we did Medium and that got yanked too ~ We don’t like reality shows. Cheap to shoot with empty content.
Wow, did I get this news late. I can’t believe CBS cancelled Cold Case! The reason ratings were down was because Sunday programming is always screwed up due to football. No one ever knew when the show was going to start so you would have to DVR Cold Case at the slotted time plus the two shows after to make sure you recorded the whole episode. Cold Case was one of the best shows on TV. Wake up CBS!! Bring it back on another night.
As much as my husband and I love football, we couldn’t watch Cold Case since it would come on so late because CBS still ran their regular line-up no matter how long the game went–and when you have to get up for work early Monday morning, you couldn’t stay up and watch the show or DVR or TIVO it because you never knew what time to set it for.
I am SOOO unhappy to hear the show is cancelled! I absolutely LOVE it and watch it every day at 1:00 on TNT. It is original and I love how they use music from the era to bring you there. Taking us to where the characters where and seeing the past is fantastic. Please TNT keep airing Cold Case past seasons since a couple million veiwers isn’t enough for CBS to keep a great show going. BIG mistake CBS!
Cold Case was the perfect end to the weekend, a good way to relax and start the week on a good note. It is very disappointing to hear the show will not return. The actors were the best.
Wow.. Where have I been? I did not realize the show was cancelled. I just thought that with Football etc on Sunday’s that they had delayed the show and when I went to update my DVR it would not come up . I am really sad. I really loved this show!! Get rid of the Bachelor and all of that other reality crap. Who cares if people are so desperate that they have to go on TV to get married etc.
I thought this was a much better show than Without a Trace. Please bring it back, if only in reruns, just like ‘Without a Trace.
In this Tv show, it was good to see the years that the case happened and how things were then. The cars, the clothes etc. I looked forward to that
TR
This is so sad they cancelled this show. I love it. Please bring it back!! What was CBS thinking taking this off the air. The cast is wonderful and they really have it together. Please rethink this.
PLEASE BRING COLD CASE BACK, IT IS ONE SHOW I LOVE TO WATCH. WE DO NOT NEED ANOTHER REALITY SHOW. I LOVE IT WHEN LILLY AND THE GANG GO BACK A LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND SOLVE THE CASE. MY FAVORITE IS THE ONE ABOUT WOMENS RIGHT TO VOTE, WITH ALICE B. HARRIS. PLEASE PUT THIS SHOW ON USA OR TNT, WHERE THEY ARE NOW SHOWING RERUNS. I WILL NOT MISS ONE EPISODE.
What the heck! I’ve been waiting for Cold Case to reappear. I can tell you why the ratings were in the tank…..with CBS’ Sunday programming, you could never tell when it was actually going to be on and you couldn’t DVR it because it records whatever is showing in the time slot. Geez CBS, you really screwed up! It isn’t the show stupid, it’s the schedule. It’s all football driven. Even 60 Minutes and everything else is suffering on Sunday nights. Bring it back!!!!!
i really is disappointed that they cancel three of my fav’s show without a trace, cold case, and ghost whisper they was some good show now i barely watch cbs cause of that took of my show
BRING BACK COLD CASE…. PLEASE SIGN A PETITION FOR A 8TH SEASON.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/coldcase8th9thseason-50episodes
COLD CASE DESERVES A 8TH SEASON… PLEASE HELP GET A 8TH..FOR THIS GREAT COP SHOW
THANKS FOR SUPPORT
Dodge Saienni
I watch it everyday when I get home with my mom. Great show with great actors, I still hate CBS for dropping it. The theme song is so awesome, but very haunting. Period music is great too.
SEASON EIGHT FOREVAH
i love cold case
Are you kidding, with all the crap on t.v.(reality shows) this show should have lasted a hell of a lot longer. Show the intelligence of the American audience.
It also shows the intelligence of the networks executives–it should have been a ‘no-brainer’ to move it to a different night and/or different time!