As expected, CBS has pulled the plug on their long-running drama, Numb3rs. A mainstay of the Friday night schedule, brothers Charlie and Don Eppes won’t be back next fall with a seventh season.
Numb3rs revolves around an FBI agent (Rob Morrow) and his genius brother (David Krumholtz) who helps solve cases with mathematics. The cast also features Judd Hirsch (as their father), Alimi Ballard, Dylan Bruno, Navi Rawat, Aya Sumika, and Peter MacNicol.
The cancellation doesn’t come as much of a surprise, especially when you look at the figures.
The ratings have dropped quite a bit in recent years. Last season fell to an average of a 2.2 rating in the all-important 18-49 demographic and 10.2 million total viewers. This season, the ratings dropped further still, to a 1.8 rating and 8.26 million viewers. CBS cut the show’s episode order from 22 to 16 installments last fall. While the official word was that CBS had an overflow of original programming, networks don’t usually cut the orders of successful shows.
 Loading ... |
The cast and crew filmed what could serve as a series finale and Morrow and Krumholtz signed on for new TV show pilots. While the actors would be contractually obligated to return to Numb3rs if CBS decided to renew it, ABC and FOX were confident that they wouldn’t.
Last week, it was confirmed that the show’s sets were being dismantled, another sign that Numb3rs was finished. CBS has now made the cancellation official.
On the positive side, Morrow will return next fall in a new series for ABC called The Whole Truth. He’ll play an attorney opposite Joely Richardson. Unfortunately, Krumholtz’s comedy pilot, Tax Man, was not picked up by FOX for the 2010-11 season.
What do you think? Are you satisfied with the way that Numb3rs ended? What will you miss about the show? Will you give The Whole Truth a try?
Image courtesy CBS.
I’m still bummed about the cancellation of Numb3rs. I really miss getting my weekly fix of Dylan Bruno. As for the new shows, so far the ones I have seen are totally stupid. I watched Lonestar and thought it was garbage. Now I see that it is already done. The first Hawaii 5-0 was OK, but I thought the second one was stupid and probably won’t watch it again, even though I like Alex. Preferred him in Moonlight. The show with Tom Selleck that replaced Numb3rs is just another cop soap opera, but at least has really good actors. All… Read more »
Cancelled? That’s so sad. Numb3rs was one of my favorite shows of all times. It certainly made me more interested in math and things like that. It was more of a motivational show than just a drama so it’s really sad to see a show like that go. That’s what people (especially the younger generation which i’m in) need right now. Instead of watching Jersey Shore they could have been watching Numb3rs (had it not been cancelled) and being inspired to actually go to school instead of watch Snookie get punched in the face again (and again).
I love this show! Its a fun show to watch and is different from others! Can’t believe this they need to reconsider. I’m actually watching numbers now and I’m loving it! If there so worried bout ratings maybe having more commercials presenting that numbers is coming back for new season or a new episode would help ratings because not everyone knows when and what time things play!. I love numbers and it shouldn’t be canceled! Big freaken mistake! CBS come on now spend a little money and let us viewers enjoy our shows we LOVE all you keep doing is… Read more »
I am tryin to figure out how i missed the memo…i just knew a new season was to happen this fall….I am quite sad because it was an AWESOME show…great plots, great actors/actresses…i am sooo over CBS right now…and they cancelled As the World Turns…i cant take these people…but i will say that Americans have fallen prey to the reality tv stupid bug and like to watch mindless stupid shows like Bad Girls Club, that has absolutely NO POINT!!!….lets do better folks…
Wow, another good show bites the dust. I am about ready to quit even trying to watch shows cause they always seem to cancel the ones that require a bit of thought.
This was a fantastic show! Great story lines every week just like Without a trace (also canceled ) …now we are stuck with shows like Big bang theory. Mindless TV! How do all of the NCIS spinoffs keep making the cut????
I am very sad to see it end. Like others said, it was a show that required brain matter. Too many people don’t want to have to think or listen, just watch. Our country is getting lazy in that way. I like a show that requires you to pay attention and one you can possibly learn from. Too many shows tell you every detail, and do not allow any room for thinking. Numb3rs was not like that. I think it is very sad to see a good show end. It probalby didn’t help that it aired on a Friday night.… Read more »
we all use math, everyday, too bad that they didn’t get more into math based storylines, even though I enjoyed charlie’s analogies or metaphors. I’ll miss the show, from the relationships between all the characters, to the intriguing mysteries , to even the tcchno-themed theme music, I understood the cutting of the original theme song to show more episdode, but both worked for me. Is the show cancelled because ridley scott is working on the monopoly movie? I posted a thread on the wizard universe message board a couple of years ago about it, that the plot should revolve around… Read more »
I actually liked the show and will miss it on Friday nite. Was happy to see Dylan Bruno in NCIS and would like to see more with Navi Rawat and of course, Judd Hirsch.
The demographics say that on only 7.9 million intelligent people watched this program. This does not bode well for much intelligence in the Nov, 2010 elections does it.
Gee, CBS, thanks for nothing. Another great show cancelled. Moonlight was also a great show. What is the matter with you people. And no, the ending was not great. It was ok (for Numb3rs) and sucked for Moonlight! I would have liked to see Charlie have a huge wedding with both cultures mixed into the ceremony! And for once, just everyone have a happy note to end on. So sad! And CBS, are you not aware that Vampires have always been a huge hit with huge crowds of every age. I am fortunate to be able to have HBO, others… Read more »
I watch very few shows on ACB, CBS and NBC. Numb3rs was about the only one. CBS now has absolutely no shows that I enjoy and will watch. This is why many people choose ton watch cable channels.
Just goes to show that Americans are getting more and more dumb. This was an intelligent show with very good story lines and plots. It was probably the mathematics part that killed it. Way too far over people’s heads!
Yup, people probably don’t realize that math IS used in real crime
fighting! Seems no one likes anything that they actually have to think
about anymore! So Sad
This was an awesome show…. big mistake cancelling it!!!!
I am so disappointed at the crap that is on TV right now…. half of the new shows look so stupid yet they cancel a really good show like this….
I thought it was a great show. I’m really disappointed. I’m tired of the long list of good shows that I really enjoyed but were discontinued before they had a good run.
I couldn’t agree more!!!