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! 
What air head cancel shark? One of the few program’s I looked forward to watching. What are they going to give us?? another reality show.
I absolutely loved the show and the characters, I cannot believe CBS cancelled this show, Please bring the show back.
My fiance and I were on-line trying to figure out when shark was coming on… we were hooked on watching it every week… We cant believe they canceled it! We agree with Keith… We would trade in CSI for SHARK!!! I HATE CBS right now… They made a bad decision!
You have got to be freakin’ kidding me…I loved this show…there is no way that this was a good decision.
I watch all the CSIs too…but would trade all three of them for Shark!! Come on…at least give it to another network…then you’ll see it’s value.
Bring it back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One of the best programs! James Woods is the best!!!
Another good show off the air while more reality crap stays on TV…..
Can’t believe you cancelled Shark. My husband and I are in our late 50’s and absolutely loved this show. James Wood and the cast were great. It never fails when there is a good tv show out there it gets cancelled. You need to bring this show back!!!
shark cancelled?!
come on! i’m 19 and i love shark! but maybe this is only in spain…we love shark.
sad news…
This absolutely SUCKS!!! There isn’t much to watch on televison, but if a show doesn’t seem to involve the main characters involved in lurid sex acts, taking drugs, or doing other thing that are unseeming the show get lost in the shuffle. I am so disappointed I can hardly think about it. Here I have been waiting all summer for Shark’s new season, only to find out there isn’t one.
What brilliant executive made the decision to cancel Shark? It was THE ONLY show I watched faithfully of all the series on TV. I looked forward to it every week. A really good show goes and the junk stays. Nice going.
Very disappointing that “Shark” was canceled. James Woods is a wonderful actor and we were so lucky to have him in a tv series after all the films that he’s done. This must have been a real slap in the face for him. I too don’t understand why the under-50 generation needs so much consideration. The over-50 population in this country is large and hungry for quality tv. Like everyone I know, I am sick to death of reality shows. Many of them lack intelligence and creativity, as well as being crude and low class. We have become a country… Read more »
I am so miffed (I’m trying to be PC about this) that they have cancelled Shark. There are a lot of us (over 45 years) that really enjoyed this show – I am certainly not a reality show watcher. Why do studios play around with the time slots for shows – they sure seem to make sure that the reality shows timeslots are not changed. Why can’t they do the same for quality shows like “Shark”?
I totally loved “Shark” also., and never missed a show…never took any phone calls during it either! James Woods is fabulous in anything he does, and was superb in this. Everyone in the show did a great job. There’s hardly anything good on with any substance, and it is EXCEEDINGLY disappointing “Shark” will not be back on. 🙁
Hope you get to keep working, James Wood, in something you like!! We’ll miss you terribly.
Shark was great. It was nice to see James Woods on the screen again. I really enjoyed the series and the story. I wish CBS would give their heads a shake. Who cares about reality TV and isn’t even reality. If any other networks read this it would be foolish not to pick up the show again. For the amount of money TV executives are paid you would figure it would come with some form if intelligence. FYI CBS the younger viewers are not the ones paying to watch your network, we are!
WOW!!!!!!!!!!! To say that I am disappointed that Shark has been cancelled is putting it mildly. I am FURIOUS!!!!!!! With all the reality crap on tv I was glad to finally find a show with substance. I never missed an episode and was never disappointed or let down by the plots or story lines. James Woods is a great actor and only he could carry this role. SHAME on you CBS for cancelling this show. They say that hindsight is 20/20 and I hope that you realize this before another network picks up this awesome show.