Cable channel Bravo has purchased the exclusive rights to air CBS’ summer drama, Swingtown. Does this mean there will be a second season?
Swingtown debuted on Thursday, June 5, 2008 on CBS. The series was executive produced by show creator Mike Kelley and Jericho’s Carol Barbee. Set in the summer of 1976, Swingtown follows three families as they explore new freedoms and shifting moral values in Chicago suburbia. The series stars veterans of cancelled shows like Molly Parker (Six Feet Under), Grant Show (Melrose Place), Lana Parrilla (Spin City), Josh Hopkins (Pepper Dennis), Miriam Shor (Big Day), and Shanna Collins (Wildfire).
CBS’ President of Entertainment, Nina Tassler, gave the drama a greenlight in May 2007 after HBO had passed on the project. It was expected to air during the regular 2007-08 season but CBS decided to delay the series until Summer, typically a time used to burn off less desirable programming. Critical and viewer reception for Swingtown was mixed and the pilot debuted to fewer than 8.6 million viewers and a 2.5/7 rating/share in the 18-49 demographic. The ratings for subsequent episodes dropped from there.
After seven episodes, CBS moved Swingtown to Friday nights and gave Flashpoint its place on Thursdays. In its new timeslot, the viewership plunged to a low of 2.82 million.
Despite the disappointing numbers, Swingtown has attracted media interest and a devoted group of viewers. The series also still must have some supporters at CBS because the network execs opted to air all 13 episodes rather than pull it.
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Though the series’ ratings are too low to warrant a season two renewal on the network, the CBS studio tried to find another home for Swingtown. They focused their efforts on cable channels which aren’t under strict FCC regulations. On cable, the writers could presumably take the show’s risque exploits even further and possibly attract additional media attention. Unfortunately, there’s been no takers.
Bravo recently made a deal for the cable rights to air Swingtown’s first season in the next few months. The cable station has made it clear that they are merely purchasing the pre-existing 13 episodes and have no intention of producing a second season. The deal effectively closes the door on the series’ future. With Bravo having the air rights for the first season, another cable channel would have little reason to produce season two.
On a positive note, the first (and only) season of Swingtown will be released on DVD in December. With any luck, the executive producers will use this opportunity to answer outstanding questions and to tell us what might have happened if the series had continued. Stay tuned! 
I watched this show every week and nevr missed an episod.e. I did always think it wa sto mucj for tv. It is too bad that Bravo will not even considre making a second season. 🙁
I absolutely love this show. I was so disappointed when CBS decided to cancel it. So much could be done with this show- someone needs to continue it. I didn’t get to watch it on tv, but watched it on Netflix. I couldn’t stop watching it- I watched episodes back-to-back and made it through the entire first season in just a few evenings. Pleaase bring back Swingtown!!!
I’ve been a fan of Molly Parker since Kissed. I didn’t hate this show; specifically, I thought it belonged on cable. Not that it was shocking; it just didn’t quite work on regular t.v.. I think it could be like some of my favorties on cable: Big Love, the Tudors and the Sopranos. This show just needed a lot more freedom than it had on ABC.
I really hope that Bravo hurries up and books those wonderful actors. CBS is making a big mistake, repeating the My So Called Life travesty.
The show was great!!!! My husband and I looked forward to watching this show every week. Television was starting to get boring with all these reality shows. It was so great that someone decided to bring back shows that people could finally enjoy again. It would be great if they would bring back the show.
Swingtown was a refreshing, well written, well acted show that had me glued every week. I still cannot believe it has been cancelled. Rerun season 1 or the first few episodes like they do for all continuing shows so people who missed it can get into it. I think they re-showed Lost and Heros over and over — they should do that with Swingtown. I am so disappointed.
Once again, a great show, great characters and the network takes it off the air. It seems like the only thing on television is crime shows or reality shows. Many of the women and even some men I know are and were totally into Swingtown. I don’t even turn on my tv anymore. How many dead bodies can you stand to look at day in and out. No wonder children of today have so many issues. How sad that Paris Hilton needs a new best friend and we have to watch her nonsense and a show like Swingtown with wonderful… Read more »
I lived through those times and not all people lived that way, but I did know people who did. The writers wrote the truth about the 70’s. If people don’t want to watch because they don’t like what they see, they should change their channel!!!! History is a great thing, even when we don’t agree with it, we can learn from it. The people I new from that time were very happy and loving. We did not have the crime of today, nor the financial crises we are going through. America get a life, get your heads out of the… Read more »
Finally a show that is not medical, or law enforcement, and so of course they took it off, why don’t these show producers listen when we tell them something. It is the same thing every year. If one of them doesn’t like it they move it until no one can find it and then say the public didn’t like it so its history. We should all be given a chance to vote before they remove shows!!!!!
Please bring back this show!!!!!!!!!…………….. I loved swingtown
I don’t normally seek out to see if a show is going to be cancelled, but my friends and mom love the show, and I was hooked on the first episode. I was never into soap operas, but this is a great show. I hope they keep it going. I think it would be better had HBO picked it up initially. Probably would have been even better. I’m actively seeking assurance that there will be a season 2. Cross our fingers guys. I’m a fan of crime and reality shows, but enoughs enough.
Please bring back Swingtown, I absolutely love love this show and all of its characters.
This was the best show of the summer in my eyes. It was not that boring stuff that the summer television schedule brings on. The summer is supposed to be lighter and more risky and this show fit in perfectly.
I would love a second season because I will be watching every episode!
I loved the show Swingtown and I know many people at work did as well. Please bring it back!
Thank you for renewing swingtown…..
I WON”T MISS A SHOW>>> I AS MANY OF MY FRIENDS LOVE IT>>>