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.
Just found out, Awful !!!!
Good show, Tom Barry is excellent as police chief ,
Kathryn Morris is beautiful , Love her, I will miss wondering
What hair style she is coming on with, All in all , pretty good show,
Some floppy episodes, but mostly good… Bye the way , I saw
Kathryn Morris’. Photos from FHM , Oh my God !!!!! Awesome !!!!!!!!
Cold Case has consistently been one of the very best TV shows produced! The characters, their interactions, the plots, and the music and finale shots(the ghosts of the dead people who have been ‘put to rest’) were a fascinating mixture of realism, drama, mystery, and even humor. It’s a shame when a terrific show like this one is taken off the air, so that another so-called “reality” series can be produced. Shame on you, CBS!
I am totally devastated! Sad to see that such a quality production is cancelled; meanwhile, garbage reality shows continue to pollute my airwaves. On my third replay Sunday night as I type this. Boohoo.
No!!! Please don’t do this. I love this show. And I love Lily Rush. It is my favorite TV show. Bring back Rush. We want Rush!!!
Lea if you turn on TNT they show 2 shows from 1-3 central time and then at night but that is at 2:00 am. I watch it cause I am retired now. but I will have to get the DVD now that the scrag head yankees in cbs have canex the cold case just like without a trace. oh let us not forget NBC canex Law and Order, but good news there in the fall we will have law and order los angeles. about time I was tired of seeing new york all the time. now we get to have… Read more »
WHAT IS WRONG WITH CBS…..THE BEST SHOW YOU CANCELLED ……WHY WHY WHY—–JUST CANCEL ANY OF THE REALITY (THAT REALLY ARE NOT REALITY) PLEASE PLEASE GIVE UP BACK THIS WONDERFUL SHOW….
Why was it cancelled? I thought cancelling Ghost Whisperer was a heart break…but to find out 10 minutes later that Cold Case was cancelled as well, that’s just cruelty. For the last two months I have been flipping to channel 5 for GW and CC and have been disappointed. The only thing that gave me hope was that maybe they were gone due to the season ending-NEVER series ending. Bring them back !!! Please
it is a crying shame but all we can do now is watch the reruns on TNT. First it was withiut a trace, now it is cold case. I have read they might even canel numbers Which is a great show. I just recieved the DVD’s for the begging to end of numbers.
Lon He’bert
Cold Case is has always been an awesome program. The time slot was atrocious. They would packed it in a half time slot following either The Amazing Race or some OT football game. Cold Case is not only an innovative program but it always sported a great plot and great music. Shame on you CBS…. reality shows are truly taking over… how pathetic!
I love cold case and to second what another responder wrote. Once you start messing with a show time slot people cant find the show and then loose interest. The acting and producing and writing on the sow is great. Each case is different and find it interesting to try and solve the crime and figure out the killer. This is sad. As much as I love reality shows i prefer a good fictional shows any time. BRING COLD CASE BACK>>>>>>>>>>
come on tv execs, i love cold case, it was a well written and acted show. Do you not give a crap what adults want? you guys should be cancelled…not cold case…..
first it is without a trace now it is cold case, and NBC cancelled law and order after 20 years. but the good new is that in the fall we have law and order los angeles. but to canell cold case is stupid. I will order the dvd soon.
Cold Case has been a staple for our family ever since it debuted in 2003. We loved to follow Lily and the gang through the past and help solve the case. It’s cancellation has left us wondering what in the heck is worth watching on Sunday nights anymore.:( Bring Cold Case back!!!
They should have kept the showtime at 9pm instead of moving it to 10pm. When you start moving the show times people lose interest or forget about the new time.
please don;t take cold case off y’all people sick to take is off