First, FOX cancelled Lone Star and then, ABC cancelled My Generation. Not wanting to be left out, NBC has now cancelled Outlaw. The Jimmy Smits series has ceased production but viewers will still be able to see the remaining episodes.
Outlaw follows a Supreme Court Justice (Smits) who decides to step down and go back to being a lawyer in order to fight injustices. The NBC series also stars Carly Pope, David Ramsey, Jesse Bradford, and Ellen Woglom.
The series debuted following the season finale of one of NBC’s biggest shows, America’s Got Talent, and could only attract moderate ratings. In its regular Friday night timeslot, Outlaw’s ratings have gone from bad to worse. This past Friday, the show hit a new low in the 18-49 demographic with a 0.9 rating and fell to just 4.10 million viewers. It was in last place in both categories.
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As we previously reported, NBC shut down production last week, supposedly wanting to wait to see if viewership got better in later weeks. If that was actually the case, they didn’t wait very long. Outlaw has been cancelled and the cast and crew won’t be returning to production.
For the time being, NBC will fill the 10pm timeslot with an expanded edition of Dateline. The four remaining episodes of Outlaw will be seen on Saturday nights starting on October 16th. An episode won’t be seen on October 30th because of a previously schedule Shrek special. The last episode of Outlaw will air on November 13th.
What do you think? Are you sorry to see it go? Why do you think it didn’t attract a bigger audience?
Image courtesy NBC.
Outlaw is a terrific show that was sentenced to the graveyard of Friday nights. I assume NBC, the worst network ever (remember the Conan/Leno fiasco; remember the cancellation of Law and Order one season before it set the new record for the longest running show ever) is continuing its downward spiral with cheap reality tv shows. Perhaps we can have a show about actresses who get their lips blown up with wax until they look horribly disfigured. Or maybe an Apprentice spin-off. No. I’d go with the fat lips show. Sounds like another cheap winner to me! Thanks, NBC.
This is a damn shame. I love law shows and Outlaw is damn good law show without all the usual glamor. I can’t agree more with Lynne here that Outlaw is far better than L&O: LA. I am a huge fan of Law & Order. Seeing that die away after 20 years was painful. LOLA is a poor replacement for L&O Original. And I thought that was the end of good law-based shows at least for a while until Outlaw came along. The show reflected on many major issues of the day where the main characters of the show cared… Read more »
NBC – can you please stop cancelling good shows. Perhaps ABC or CBS should pick it up. It was shuffled around, had to search for it and I did find it because I liked it so much. HOW STUPID IS NBC – afterall, look what a mess they made with Leno.
“SERIOUSLY” I cannot believe they cancelled this show. I looked forward to watching this show along with some other new ones this season. I have to agree with most of everyone’s comments above regarding reality Tv. Some of those reality shows gotta go!! As far as “Outlaw” I DEFINATELY preferred this show over Blue Bloods any day and that’s on Friday..Hmmm. Anyway, NBC needs to get a grip and give shows a chance. If anything OUTLAW deserved that chance…. BRING IT BACK. If anyone can remember NYPD Blue, Jimmy Smits was one of the leading men… and look how many… Read more »
the episodes had real drama about the court system
well written
Anyway of changing its fate?
The cancellation of good shows without giving them a proper chance to increase its viewership is why NBC is in fourth place among the networks. I can recall when the original Law & Order first aired; it was critically acclaimed but had low ratings. NBC gave it a chance and the results speak for themselves, 19 seasons. It is my opinion that placing a new show in a Friday evening slot during the fall when baseball playoff are underway is a death sentence for any show. Jimmy Smits is a terrific actor with a proven record of carrying an ensemble… Read more »
Outlaw is a great show and Jimmy Smits is smoking hot! He truly gets better with age. The only reason it didn’t get good numbers is because it was on in a terrible time slot. How about giving it a god time slot and moving some of the inane reality shows to Friday night. Outlaw is a thousand times better than L&O Los ANgeles, and Ilove the L&O franchise, but the LA one is so boring. I can’t believe the cancelled the original one for it.
I loved it!
Sounds like Steven doesn’t understand how TV works. Are you willing to float the bill for Outlaw’s losses?
This was a good show with interesting content. Far better than most shows on TV. Made you think. Probably low viewship due to Friday night slot.
Out of all the new fall tv shows “Outlaw” was in my top 5, and we watch about 21 tv shows weekly. I was disappointed when they cancelled Trauma and Three Rivers also. Cancel your reality and comedy shows and get shows back on like those and outlaw. BRING BACK OUTLAW or put it on a different day. Having shows on friday and saturday are hard to watch. We DVR them. Look what happened to Flashpoint. It was on a friday and was cancelled, great show but awful time. I will be really disappointed in nbc and will start to… Read more »
My husband and I thought this was one of the best new fall shows!
Of course they cancelled it, IT WAS A GREAT SHOW!!!!!! What were they afraid of, too politically CORRECT!!!! ????? How often do we see a show where someone actually cares about other people and realizes the negative effects that may have happened do to politically inspired decisions. Jimmy Smits and cast are wonderful, and deserve better than being cancelled.
So sorry this show is being cancelled. It has gotten better with each episode and has such potential. Jimmy Smits can carry a show. Keep it on!!!
I enjoyed “Outlaw” very much and am very disappointed in NBC . They leave ridiculous “reality” shows on the air and cancel shows that deal with today’s important issues. This demonstrates to me what NBC’s priorities are. Now I know why I don’t watch NBC programs very often.
Steve,
I could not agree with you more. I LOVE this show; looked forward to watching it every week as much as my beloved shows Grey’s & Private Practice. Very disappointed!