CBS still hasn’t cancelled its Madam Secretary TV show, despite Nielsen ratings declines in both its 18-49 year old demo and total viewership numbers. In the 2016-17 television season, this show’s demo ratings ranked 20th out of 26 scripted CBS series, but it drew enough viewers to rank eighth in terms of audience size. Although the Tiffany Network’s viewers tend to skew older, how long will this show’s performance suffice? Since the fourth season should give it a decent sized package to sell in syndication, will Madam Secretary be cancelled or renewed for season five? Stay tuned.
A political drama airing on the CBS television network, Madam Secretary stars Téa Leoni, Tim Daly, Bebe Neuwirth, Željko Ivanek, Keith Carradine, Sebastian Arcelus, Patina Miller, Geoffrey Arend, Erich Bergen, Kathrine Herzer, Wallis Currie-Wood, and Evan Roe. The drama follows the shrewd, determined Elizabeth McCord (Leoni). As U.S. Secretary of State, she battles office politics, while driving diplomacy and negotiating global deals.
Elizabeth was once a CIA analyst, who exited that post for ethical reasons. She later returned to public life, at the request of President Conrad Dalton (Carradine). He values her apolitical leanings, knowledge of the Middle East, flair for languages, and unconventional thinking. Elizabeth is married to Henry (Daly), a former theology professor who is now an intelligence operative. Together, they’re bringing up three children, which can really test her diplomatic skills.
The ratings are typically the best sign of a show’s likelihood of staying on the air. The higher the ratings (particularly in the 18-49 demo), the better the chances for survival. This chart will be updated as new ratings data becomes available — usually the next day, around 11:30am EST/8:30am PST. Refresh to see the latest.
5/21 update: You can see the latest night’s ratings in context.
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For comparisons: The third season of Madam Secretary averaged a 0.88 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 8.286 million total viewers.
Note: These are the Live + Same Day Ratings which include “live” viewing plus delayed DVR viewing, up until 3am local time that same night. Ratings marked with an “*” are the fast affiliate ratings and will be updated with the Live+SD numbers when they are made available. Typically, networks get paid for C+3 ratings which includes DVR viewing within three days of the original airing when commercials are watched. Those numbers are rarely released to the press.
What do you think? Do you still like the Madam Secretary TV series? Should it be cancelled or renewed for season five on CBS?
4/18/18 update: CBS has renewed Madam Secretary for a fifth season for 2018-19. Details here.
Love this show and Season 4 really brilliant. Please don’t cancel!
This show is excellent, content right on point, thought provoking, family friendly. Just don’t understand why it is on so late & then pushed later often with football schedule. Would love to see it @ 8 or 9 (east coast) & maybe on Wednesday. Perhaps change in time slot would help ratinga. Pls don’t cancel.
We like the show and watch every week. However, we don’t care for the Russian guy (or whatever he’s supposed to be) with his fake accent. The writers can do so much better than that storyline.
I have never liked this show. Needs to be cancelled!!
if you don’t then please don’t watch it, Thanks
Neither have I. The ratings are disgusting. They have been for years. The stories are ridiculous. Why CBS feels sorry for Tea Leoni and keeps this piece of garbage on the air is beyond me, except that the job of Les Moonves isn’t on the line because of this debacle.
I use to watch the show Madam Secretary but since it is on late now and you changed the time slot. I stopped watching and you put some crappy show in its place. Wisdom of the crowd …it sucks…hate it.
Wisdom of the Crowd is being CANCELLED in the infinite wisdom of CBS.
Madame Secretary is interesting and very well written. We were hooked by the second show. The cast is great! Please don’t cancel it. We need more quality shows like it!
I love love this show!!
I love this show, but hate that CBS put it in this time slot. The football games cause a problem for this show each week. This sets this show up to have lousy ratings. It is an great drama and great relevant stories. I would hate to see this show cancelled.
I agree I love the show but stopped watching because on it on late now. I hate football and it is ruining the ratings for this show.
America elected Donald Trump as president of the United States. Why would America want to watch something that has at least a modicum of substance? Of course I still want West Wing on TV (at least if it were like the first four seasons).
Not so. America did not elect the current President. That was the electoral system where the rest of the world thinks we’re just plain loco. There’s all sorts of things on tv of substance, like PBS and all the news and news commentary programs. Madame S. is substantial for America perhaps, and it was very well written to make me hooked.
Our country elects presidents by the electoral college. It’s the law! Read up
love this show, the only show we watch with the family aside from GOT.. unfortunately those who watch this in all parts of the globe cannot be counted
Excellent drama with an amazing writing team , interesting stories and even an education on foreign relations. Téa Leoni is casting perfection in lead role. Many recognizable Broadway stars cast as it’s filmed in NYC. It’s aspirational politics offer an escape from real world mess. CBS has given it a new late problematic Sunday night time slot where it’s often pushed later due to football delays setting it up for lower ratings. Would hate for Madam Secretary to be cancelled because of the poor time slot.
I absolutely love Madam Secretary and do not want the series cancelled.
Madam Secretary is my favorite show on television. It is the combination of intrigue and family that keeps me glued. I am delighted the show was not cancelled for its fourth season and I sincerely hope it will be renewed for its fifth season. Ratings often are effected by what shows are being shown on other channels, so that needs to be taken into account.
Madam Secretary is one of the best shows and should not be cancelled!
Keep it. I love Madame Secretary and her cast.
The plots are fascinating!