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! 
LOVED SWINGTOWN!!! PLEASE BRING IT BACK.!!!!!
This show is awsome!! It is a great show for the summer. Hot and steemy!! My friends and our hubbys are all into it. You have got to bring it back!
Please pick up Swingtown for 2nd season. My boyfriend & I love it! We have been waiting for it to come back. We were very upset when we looked it up online & found out that it has been cancelled. Someone should pick it up, it was a great series!
I love this show! I couldn’t wait for summer to come to see season 2. My husband and I really really really loved watching if you know what I mean. Wht a different and refreshing show to watch! Please, I beg of you Bravo, produce the second season!
OMG!! A network really needs to pick this show up. I was real disappointed to hear that it wasn’t coming back for a second season. I have been looking forward to seeing it for so long now. Please Please have a second season!!!!
Please someone pick this show up! I love this show, and looked forward to it each week! It was not a cookie cutter type show, and that is what made it unique!
Love the actors, sets, and clothes, too!
What a show! I was given this series by a friend on holiday in Ireland and had only seen the name of websites as I browsed. From the look of the show, the actors, the writers and the production values it was just fantastic. It was an intelligent, well thought through idea and well presented. There appeared to be such an amount of compassion and heart behind each characters and their decisions. Despite the subject matter, there was no gratuitous exposure which is a credit to all concerned. I am aware ‘reality’ programming is cheap and easy but shows like… Read more »
I sooooooo miss Swingtown, my husband and I LOVED it!!! We bought the DVD and have watched the episodes several times….we so want a Season 2…. 🙁
I know that it is probably too late but PLEASE bring back Swingtown for season 2! It has been off for almost a year and I still miss it and wonder what would have happened. There was no better show on TV. This show really deserves a second chance.
I wish some network would pick up Swingtown for a 2nd season! I was left hanging with what was going to happen to the characters and I feel the plot was GREAT :)))))))
I just watched this show on Netflix after moving last summer and missing the original airing. I wish the networks would consider that many of us now expect good shows to go on DVD and wait to watch them a season at a time. I am in total shock and in mourning that I will never know the outcome of these amazing characters! This show had a unique way of showing relationships that I haven’t seen in another tv series. I fell in love with every single character. Don’t break my heart here, please!
I loved this show and couldn’t wait for more!! i am so sad to see there will not be a second season. Hopefully someone will change that and it will be made.
I loved the show and wished it would continue. I was a teenager during that era and the producers depicted the year perfectly, from the clothes to the decor in the homes, So many of those characters could have been plucked from my teen years. The only other program that I have seen to nail that time period as well was The Wonder Years. I’d love to see one of the networks pick it up and run with it!!!!
I loved this show so did my mom and bf. Plz bring it back there really nothing good on anymore. PLZ GIVE IT ONE MORE CHANGES
I LOVE THE SHOW AND WAS LOOKING SO FORWARD TO WATCHING SEASON 2.PLEASE BRING IT BACK IT WAS A GREAT SOMETHING NEW KINDA SHOW.IF THEY ARE KNOW SEASON 2 THEN THEY NEED TO TELL US WOULD OF HAPPENED TO ALL THE ACTORS.