Though politics are an extra touchy subject these days, CBS decided to order a new drama about a blonde, female Secretary of State — Madam Secretary. Some feel that it’s a thinly-veiled allusion to Hillary Clinton while others see the show as a piece of fiction. Either way, CBS is a corporation that makes money from selling advertising and must attract healthy ratings to do that. Is Madam Secretary a success with viewers? Will it survive? Cancel or keep it?
On Madam Secretary, former CIA analyst Elizabeth McCord (Tèa Leoni) returns to public life after being recruited by the President (Keith Carradine) to become the new Secretary of State. The rest of the cast includes Željko Ivanek, Bebe Neuwirth, Geoffrey Arend, Patina Miller, Erich Bergen, Tim Daly, Katherine Herzer, and Evan Roe.
The series debuted on September 21st to a mediocre 2.0 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 14.75 million viewers. Last week, Madam Secretary dropped 30% in the demo to a 1.4 rating and dropped 14% in viewership, to 12.72 million. Those aren’t very encouraging numbers for a new series and CBS was surely expecting a lot better.
Low-rated, The Good Wife brings the network some prestige but CBS needs more shows with better numbers.
If Madam Secretary’s ratings stay at this level or continue to decline (particulalry in the demo), this new show will be in very real danger of being cancelled. On the positive side, the network is likely to be patient — at least for awhile. The ratings could go up, especially if the show starts getting some positive word of mouth.
But, what do you think? Do you like Madam Secretary? Will you keep watching? Do you think it should be cancelled? Do you think that it should/will end up being renewed for a second season?
Really enjoyed the show. Give it a chance!
Best show this season.interesting situations and exciting story line.love the show.everyone I know loves the show
I really like the show. The actors & stories are great. Let’s give it a chance.
I think CBS will keep it running perhaps through the fall of 2016 despite low ratings. Why? Because it is a stealth campaign contribution to the Clintons. If you cannot see its intent as a propaganda piece to support Hillary’s presidential run, you are extraordinarily naïve. I watched about one minute last night (all I could stand) and noticed the Tea Leoni character wearing those same bulky black eyeglasses that Hillary wore to give her a look of gravitas. I wonder if they were showing subliminal pictures of Hillary while the show was running. Not sure if I should laugh… Read more »
I like the show so far, but like others had to find it on demand due to football. I changed my DVR to record an hour past scheduled time and hope this works. Sunday night is tough as it is against Sunday night football as well as having football running over into prime time.
Saw it for the first time this week and loved it. Big west wing fan so love the genre and the concept.
This is a good show. Everyone does an excellent job. CBS just be patient. You decided to hang in there with the Good Wife all these years; their ratings haven’t always been the best. Give Madam Secretary the same consideration. We need quality programming. Contrary to popular belief, everyone does not always want to watch reality tv!
I love this show!!
Love this show don’t cancel it.would be very stupid of you guys to cancel it.
Why the extreme concern for the 18-49 demographic viewpoint? Good shows, and I consider Madam Secretary a very good show, should not be cancelled because that age group doesn’t like the show. Perhaps politics and greed get into the decision too much instead of letting folks watch a show they really enjoy!!! Its time to think of those outside of the 18 – 49 age bracket.
I think the only reason this is popping up is because someone at CBS has lost faith with the show (or there’s behind the scenes tension). Saying a show is “skewing old” is apparently acceptable to the press as a reason to cancel a show with enough viewers to warrant a renewal.
That said, Madam Secretary’s lead-in was up 5 million viewers last week and MS was barely even, so it doesn’t look like it’s headed in the right direction (than again no shows are so far this year so it’s hardly alone).
Please keep it, I truly love it! I don’t like the Good Wife, because she’s not, she’s a tramp!!!!
Well, I hope they keep it. It’s not bad. The cast is stellar and the premise is good. Polish up the writing a bit and let it grow. I watched the first 2 episodes with my husband and 23 year old daughter who came over for dinner, the third episode we will pick up on Hulu .
Madam Secretary (AKA let’s give Hilary an advantage) is going to lose a large audience due to the fact its a free ad for the Clinton election. I’ve heard several people swear they refuse to watch it because its so obvious.
Like any scripted TV drama these days, it needs time to develop, but being stuck behind Sunday night football tells me 2 things: CBS has little faith in the show and it’s going to die a fast death. I like Tea Leoni as an actress, which is the only reason I even considered watching the show since I struggle with scripted TV dramas (where everyone is 20- or 30-something; wears great clothes; never a hair out of place; inane, dispirited dialogue; and most of the “acting” is done by the camera and fast/chop-chop editing – maddening). Leoni has presence on… Read more »
Apollo is right: It’s far too early to consider canceling such a promising show — forced to stage its debut behind Sunday night football. Madam Secretary is an astonishingly smart show with an a genuinely likable and believable lead, a first-rate cast, and top writers. The show is handing CBS an opportunity to divert the endless stream of drivel that dominates network TV for just one hour. It deals with adult content that relates to the real world. It is refreshing. Timely. It dares to pose questions of moral integrity rather than the questions of who’s sleeping with whom! For… Read more »
Last night was the end for me. Trading a grade in college course in Ethics for an American spy was just too much. Crap writing. The scene was awkward with Tea and her hubby arguing about the grade and then compromising on an incomplete. BS crap. Bye Bye.
The scene where the ethics professor/husband is asked to give an “A” to a student for political reasons was a mistake. But it was one scene in a an otherwise promising weekly show. Giving up on a TV show for one such scene, makes me wonders what on earth there is to watch!