CBS has decided to cancel Shark after two seasons on the air. What killed the series?
Shark debuted on September 21, 2006 and stars James Woods as Sebastian “Shark” Stark, an arrogant and cutthroat prosecutor. The TV show did pretty well in its first season on CBS. It ranked 24th for the season with an average of 13.7 million viewers. The one downside was that the show’s viewers tended to skew older. But, in a season littered with prematurely cancelled drama series (Smith, 3 lbs., The Nine, etc.), the show’s ranking and survival was an impressive achievement. The series was renewed for a second season.
Season two kicked off on Sunday, September 23, 2007. In that 10pm timeslot, Shark had to compete against ABC’s popular Brothers & Sisters and consistently lost in total viewers and the all-important 18-49 demographic.
Like most shows, Shark’s production schedule was interrupted by the writers strike. When the strike was over, production resumed and four more episodes were created. After a long absence, new episodes began airing in late April. In the show’s new Tuesday night timeslot, it was easily beaten by ABC’s Dancing with the Stars and FOX’s Hell’s Kitchen in both total and 18-49 viewers.
The show’s chances for a third year were still up in the air until just recently. Ultimately, the combination of Shark’s inability to attract younger viewers, the writers strike, and CBS’ excitement over its new dramas is likely what led the network to cancel the series.
Woods tells the LA Times that the cast and crew were “very saddened” by the news but were trying to stay positive. He continues, “We’re a little baffled by the decision but we’re very supportive… None of us can figure out quite why. But we have no bad feelings. This show did an enormous amount for me personally. We all won doing the show.”
>The current season, cut short by the writers strike, is made up of only 16 episodes. Shark’s series finale is scheduled for Tuesday, May 20th. It’s unlikely that the episode will offer any kind of closure for the series. Stay tuned! 
This is horrible!!!! what the hellz was cbs thinking? inabliity to capture young viewers? im 18 now but i watched it since it came on and so did all three of my younger sibs. the youngest is 11 for godsakes!! i just bought the first season dvd too and ive been watching it over and over. I dont know about another network picking it up but that would be smart. The writing and filming was so excellent. casting was also perfect. even non james woods fans could get into it. its got jeri ryan for godsakes. all in all i… Read more »
Once again a decent show comes on to watch and it gets cancelled. I followed it from the beginning and to each new night. I would love to talk to the person or persons who decide what shows get canned. Just because a show is not #1 does not mean a lot of people can’t enjoy it. James Woods is a great actor and well worth hanging on to. The rest of the cast was fantastic as well.
What’s wrong with you people! Finally a good show like Shark that’s not reality crap and you cancel it. Some of us want to see entertainment and not a bunch of people eating bugs, picking out a mate because they can’t get a date in real life or idiots trying to be a one hit wonder. Wake up!!!
I too am very upset that Shark has been canceled! It was also one of my favorite shows. I never missed an episode in both seasons. James Woods was really awesome as were all the actors. I don?t understand what happened. I too can’t stand some of the stupid reality shows. They are not worth the time or money it takes to make them. Some of the ridiculous reality shows like Survivor are just getting old and boring. I will truly miss the show as will many of my friends. I hope another network picks it up. They really would… Read more »
I can’t believe Shark has been cancelled! It was one of my favourite shows. My husband and I never missed an episode in both seasons. James Woods was awesome and all the actors were superb. I don’t understand what happened. I would much rather see a show like Shark on then some of the ridiculous reality shows like Survivor that are just getting old and boring. The same thing happened with Jericho. We will truly miss the show. Maybe another network will pick it up. They would be smart to do so!
I just don’t get it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11 These guys are idiots! There is nothing but trash on Friday and Saturday’s why not just air these great shows then??????????????? I know lots of peolpe who would watch them!
I’m sad. I was just watching the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and he mentioned CBS cancelled Shark. I really wish these reality shows would cease and good old fashioned drama would return. CBS knows best how to make this work so I just don’t understand why they end up with great drama and cancel it! Glad to see the Unit back on this fall and wish we still had Jericho. Heaven forbit Criminal Minds, Numbers, Without A Trafce or either CSI Miami or CSI (las vegas) were to be cancelled. I love the “whodunit” drama. Still saddened to… Read more »
Shark was a great show. My wife, 12-year-old son, and I watched it every week. I hope some other network picks it up. I’d love to see another season.
TV is changing for the worse.Its pretty sad when an actor like Mr.Woods and his amazing cast is taken off the air and crap reality shows are turning up on all networks.A huge loss to quality tv dramas.Will miss Shark .Whats next.CSI???
I recently finished watching ‘Shark’ Season 1 on the DVD boxset I ordered from Amazon and was wondering why I just can’t track down Season 2, which eventually lead me to this cancellation news. I don’t watch tv and don’t have a tv for the matter, but I couldn’t resist myself getting a DVD boxset after seeing the first episode, where James Woods’s presence was highly appreciated. Again. I was fascinated by this guy and began ordering his movies from Amazon then comes along this disappointing news- I hope some other station is smart enough to pick this series and… Read more »
ill be looking for revenge, what do they think, that we are all stupids? im going to start an anticbs campaign, this isnt right they shouldnt be able to play with people like this and those kind of abuses cant be left unpunished. i truly hate cbs executives theyve been doing this kind of thing for too long now.
I just found out this afternoon that Shark has been cancelled. What a HUGE mistake. I’m not sure how they get all their stats but I have a 20 yr, 22 yr old , 16 yr old and all of their friends ALL love shark! I’m only 42 and my husband is 47 and we both don’t miss an episode. Hopefully one of the cable channels will see the error in CBS’s way and pick up the series. I was shocked when I found out VEGAS was cancelled as well. There are some fantastic opportunities out there for cable tv… Read more »
I cannot believe Shark has been cancelled. I thought it was one of the better shows on TV. James Woods is a wonderful actor and deserves more than being dumbed by CBS. I hope another station has the “smarts” to pick it up. I have no interest in the reality shows that are on.
I live in Greece and have been watching shark on cable tv. I was looking forward to the new season and just now i read that it’s been canceled. Oh no, it’s a fantastic series, i love James Woods and all the cast is great, why cancel it ???? Give it some time and I’m sure the “precious” ratings will increase . All my Greek friends loved Shark as much as Law and Order, its not fair, other garbage airs prime time and we’re sick of these shows……..
I was disappointed to see one of my favorite shows cancelled. I do hope that the powers to be decide to re-evaluate their decision. The cast was great and it seemed like the enjoyed being with each other. I do hope that we all get to see some more of “Shark” tv series. This year was not very fair to any show with the writer’s strike going on – that was a mark against each one. I had each one of the Shark episodes taped so that I could watch it over during the week. Thanks for listening.