(Eddy Chen)
Yesterday, TNT announced its Major Crimes TV show would end with the upcoming sixth season. Now, creator James Duff, and star Mary McDonnell are reacting to the news that Major Crimes is ending, and it sounds like a cancellation to us. Check out their reactions, below, and let us know what you think.
A sequel to the Kyra Sedgwick crime drama, The Closer, Major Crimes made its TNT debut back in August of 2012. The police procedural series also stars G.W. Bailey, Tony Denison, Michael Paul Chan, Raymond Cruz, Phillip P. Keene, Graham Patrick Martin, Kearran Giovanni, Jonathan Del Arco, Leonard Roberts, Jessica Meraz and Daniel di Tomasso. Jon Tenney, Ransford Doherty, Kathe Mazur, Rene Rosado, Dawnn Lewis, and Bill Brochtrup recur. The sixth and final season premieres on Halloween, October 31st, at 9:00pm (ET/PT). TNT says two-episode series finale will air on Tuesday, January 16, 2018.
Creator James Duff Responds to the Major Crimes TV Series Cancellation
On Facebook, Duff makes it clear that the decision to end Major Crimes was not his idea and was not a creative one. In addition to saying he does not want to leave the drama series, Duff says, “The actors, the writers, the producers and our talented crew would have held on as long as we were relevant.” He also goes on to thank the viewers for following Major Crimes even as it was bounced from timeslot to timeslot. Check it out.
Major Crimes Star Mary McDonnell Addresses Series Cancellation
McDonnell, who has starred as Commander Sharon Raydor since the TV show premiere, says she is not surprised that TNT cancelled Major Crimes, saying, “The writing was clearly on the wall.” As you can see in her Instagram post, below, while she is proud of what they’ve accomplished, she is still trying to make sense of the cable network’s choices.
Major Crimes: A Look at the Ratings
Although the sixth and final season of Major Crimes does not premiere until the end of October, and the show’s Nielsen ratings did drop off last year, it remains one of TNT’s strongest TV shows.
The fifth season of Major Crimes averaged a 0.38 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 3.19 million viewers. While that is down by 26% and 11% (respectively) over season four, it still beats out most of TNT’s original, scripted TV shows.
In season five, it drew a larger total viewership than any other original series on the cable network. In fact, Major Crimes‘ average total audience surprassed the third season of The Librarians, by more than a million viewers and the fourth season of The Last Ship, by about 1.5 million.
In terms of its demo ratings, Major Crimes‘ ranks third out of TNT TV series. It comes in right after The Librarians and the new crime dramedy, Claws.
What do you think? Are you a fan of the Major Crimes TV show? Is it ending at the right time? Should TNT have cancelled or renewed this TV series for a seventh season?
Has TNT lost their mind. This is actually one of the only shows that TNT has that’s on my can’t miss list. I love this show! The characters are fully developed, real and thorough. This is absolutely one of the best casts on TV today. Very well rounded and cohesive. Together they really are a complete team. Please do not cancel this show!!!
We have been waiting all summer for Season 6 of Major Crimes, and now we hear it is being cancelled. This is one of the best crime dramas and we have been watching it since it was the Closer. Not only is it a great crime show, it is also very funny at times. We just love it. In today’s grim world, it is definitely one of our highlights to sit down and watch Major Crimes. I hope that enough negative reactions to this will cause them to keep it going, but unfortunately, it seems that the best ones come… Read more »
I do not think this series should have been cancelled. The series is something we look forward to and having long lasting characters that are superbly acted adds to writing. Maybe another channel will pick them up?. Not sure why the studio would think darker series would be desired.
What is wrong with the stationSHAME on YOU!!!! This is a great show I loved it from the start when it was the Closer. Why is it when there is a good program it gets cancelled. I even watch reruns. Shame on you for canceling this show.
Love the show. Hope Netflix or another streaming network will pick up. We are moving more an more in the all streaming services. Shame on TNT for cancelling a really popular show?
Shame on TNT for cancelling yet another great tv show. With the ending of Major Crimes I will no longer watch TNT. The network continues to make bad choices on what they think viewers want to see. Bye bye TNT.
This is my very favorite show. It makes me laugh and keeps me in suspense. Tremendous stories and great actors. Why are they cancelling this great show???
So disappointed to know that Major Crimes is being cancelled. The program is excellent on so many levels. It is down-to-earth, realistic, very well written, and superbly acted. The high level of direction and production can be seen in how seamlessly the storylines mesh and scenes flow. Never do my husband or I find ourselves saying, “Huh?” and wondering what just happened, or where actions or dialogue fit in with what’s been going on previously in a scene as we often do with other programs that aren’t of the same quality and caliber of Major Crimes. We are now unhappy… Read more »
This cancellation is disturbing news and makes no sense. I love Major Crimes…was a huge fan of The Closer as well, but I like this show more. The cast is superb and the writing so well done. Without Major Crimes, there will be no reason for me to watch TNT. It seems as though the networks are cancelling the shows that appeal to the older audience in favor of futuristic, vampire, sexually charged, sci-fi stuff that appeals to younger viewers that don’t even watch tv in the conventional sense. If it isn’t on Sling, Hulu, etc., they aren’t interested. Conventional… Read more »
That TNT has cancelled Major Crimes doesn’t surprise at all. They have to make another slot open up for the more “edgy” (TRASHY!!) programming that seems to be the norm now. Thankfully I have purchased the DVDs of Major Crimes so I can watch my favorite cable show any time I please. Nothing else on TNT that interests me, so they can say good-bye to another viewer. Thanks to creator, cast, and crew for the AWESOME work you’ve done.
Love love love Major Crimes!!! We need more episodes in Season 6 or a Season 7
Major Crimes is a quality show with quality writing and performers year in and year out. TNT has failed to promote Major Crimes for years, has moved it all over the TV schedule and yet it has still performed. Imagine if Major Crimes had been on a network that actually liked it and supported it. Perhaps there would not be a question of renewing contracts. In this era of TV there seems to be enough room for everyone’s TV taste. Shame on TNT.
Major Crimes is one of the best series on TV. There are so few quality shows. Not everyone likes game shows or dancing or singing shows. Dramas are so few and far between. I can’t understand why the network would cancel such an excellent series. Shame on you.
Over here in the UK, Major Crimes is the best show on TV. TNT are showing a lack of forward thinking by cancelling it. The writers have created partnerships within on big happy family, which could have been further developed, such as Sanchez and Tao, Sykes and the new guy to the team. How these writers manager to fit such great storytelling into 47 minutes I don’t know. This programme is brilliant and stands shoulder to shoulder with its predecessor such as Kojak, Hill Street Blues and Columbo. This show is as good as NCIS, which I believe is on… Read more »
Even with the way this show has been moved from one time slot to another every season it has still managed to attract millions of viewers. Please reconsider canceling this show!