Tonight, Numb3rs finishes off its sixth season with episode 118, “Cause and Effect.” Will the show be back next season? A decision hasn’t been made yet but lots of people are betting that it will be cancelled.
Numb3rs follows FBI Agent Don Eppes (Rob Morrow) and his genius brother, Charlie (David Krumholtz), who helps the authorities 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 series debuted in January 2005 and has long been a successful player for CBS on Friday nights. In season one, Numb3rs averaged a 3.2 rating in the 18-49 demographic and about 11.1 million viewers. They went up in season two, with an average of a 3.3 rating and 11.7 million viewers. Viewership has fallen since then however and last season, Numb3rs scored a 2.2 and 10.2 million.
This season, Numb3rs’ ratings have dropped further still — averaging a 1.8 rating and 8.26 million viewers each week. As a result of the decline in ratings, CBS (which is having a very good season) decided to cut back on the number of episodes and reduced their season order from 22 to 16 installments.
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The official reason for the decrease is that CBS had too much programming and needed space to try out new series. Next week, Numb3rs’ timeslot will be occupied by a new show, Miami Medical.
CBS has maintained that the fate of Numb3rs hasn’t been decided yet but, considering the series’ production costs and ratings, it seems fairly certain that the show is done.
In fact, ABC and FOX are betting on it. The networks have already cast Morrow and Krumholtz in new pilots.
Morrow will star in a dramatic pilot called The Whole Truth for ABC, opposite Joely Richardson. He’ll play a fiercely competitive and successful defense attorney who is close friends with his equally talented courtroom adversary (Richardson). Whole Truth is being produced by Jerry Bruckheimer.
Meanwhile, Krumholtz has been cast in a comedy pilot for FOX called Tax Man. The project’s being produced by Ron Howard and stars Krumholtz as an IRS Agent who’s trying to find nobility in his work. Judy Greer recently joined the cast.
If CBS does decide to bring Numb3rs back for another season, both Morrow and Krumholtz will be obligated to return. However, the other networks wouldn’t cast them in new pilots unless they felt it was a very strong possibility that Numb3rs would indeed be cancelled.
What do you think? Would you like to see Numb3rs return for a seventh season or is it time to say goodbye to the Eppes?
Image courtesy CBS.
It’s unfortunate when truly great shows don’t get appreciated in their time. As many have commented, it is great that this show has had so much success on a Friday night. CBS should seriously consider giving Numb3rs a chance on a different night before deciding to cancel. With all the reality show crap on TV, it is nice to have a drama that is intelligently written, that addresses real-world problems, and respects professional women with the portrayal of strong female characters. As someone mentioned before, I don’t know how all the CSI shows have survived, especially the Miami version…if I… Read more »
I have loved Numb3rs since it started, and have been happy with CBS. If this is truely cancelled, I will rethink my loyalty to CBS and save an hour on my DVR. This is an amazing show that makes one think about the necessity and value of mathmatics appled to real problems, and with our country falling so far behind the rest of the world in academics, now is not the time to put more nosensical crap on TV. Please rethink CBS as you will lose more than just my viewing.
One of a few intelligent shows on television. And one of the few shows that is interesting, exciting, and shows a healthy, realistic family unit. So, of course, it will be canceled.
I would like to see it continued even though it seems the story lines have been tied up. That can all be undone with the stroke of a pen. Please don’t cancel Numb3rs!
I love this show. I’ve watched it since day one. But I have to say that Friday night’ s episode sure felt like a series finale. It tied up lots of loose ends and it really kind of felt like everyone was saying good-bye. While I’d love to see it back next season, I have a feeling after seeing that season finale that I actually watched the series finale.
I’ve enjoyed the show since the start. We have to at least see Don get married. 🙂
I only have 3 words. DON’T CANCEL IT!!!!!
I second Joe V’s comments. CBS has now cancelled, The Unit , Flashpoint (all well written and executed shows) and is about to cancel Numb3rs. Who’s the Einstein making these decisions? We sure don’t need another medical drama. For those who would like to watch some light but well executed action TV, I suggest you set your DVRs to record Burn Notice, this June, on Fox. It’s been renewed for 4th Season. It’s not as cerebral as Numb3rs but it is definitely as entertaining. I guess Fox “gets it.”
@Ted: For the record, CBS hasn’t cancelled Flashpoint (yet anyway).
Please reconsider and do not cancel Numb3rs! This is a great show that teaches that Math is not just a subject you have to study in school. Math is integrated in many facets of our lives. Keep Math alive in an exciting profession to inspire the youth of this country.
One of the most intelligent shows on TV, and CBS wants to cancel it? They’re as stupid as NBC (O’Brien/Leno). I guess they are more concerned with numbers than Numb3rs.
Well CBS, you’ve done it again. The truly great series you cancel. Last season it was The Unit and Flashpoint. Both wonderful series with well thought out plots and stories. Now Numb3rs. Give us a break., With garbage like The Medium and Ghost Whisperer, you really need better programming. Maybe you should consider CSI:Boise, CSI:Augusta, or CSI:Taos. Or CSI:(fill in your city). Your philosophy: get rid of the good stuff; keep the crap!
If you treat a series poorly of course the ratings will drop! Numb3rs is a great show. It’s smart and exciting. Canceling it will only accelerate the decline of science and its appreciation in American society.
Numb3rs has been one of my favorite “must see” shows since it started. There is nothing else on ANY network that comes close to its combination of science, procedural crime, family drama, love story, and esoteric story lines. Please CBS, reconsider your decision to dump this program for the type of schlock that litters the other networks. Many, many viewers have come to love this show and its characters, not to mention the use of math and other applied sciences in the art of crime fighting. We need this in the wasteland of “reality programming” and mindless dramas. Perhaps Numb3rs… Read more »
OMG I love this show! Don’t cancel it CBS! It is still consistently the highest rated show on Friday nights, beating Medium and Ghost Whisperer. It didn’t last night, but still! Its a great character driven show as opposed to all this generic CSI crap. ‘Miami Medical’ taking its place? Please! Bring back Numb3rs! Its my favorite show on TV. I was watching it the Sunday it premiered!
So, Numb3ers finally get to the good part, the wedding, the engagement…etc.. and NOW they want to cancel the show. Seriously, ABC – you ppl have a strange way of doing things. Now this new medical show you’re thinking about replacing in the The Forgotten slot – just don’t do it. Keep The Forgotten. Keep Numb3ers. No more medical shows, we got Trama and Mercy – we don’t need you (ABC) to have a (another) medical program Geez!!!
Numb3ers is on CBS, not ABC.
The writer of the “Numb3rs article did say that Numb3rs is on CBS, Devon. You obviously got confused.
I really don’t want to see Numb3rs canceled! It is such a breath of fresh air in TV Land – a show that actually allows you to think!