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! 
Losing this show is such a loss! This is a show that I actually made sure I was home to watch. Please bring it back. This was a show that had real people that you could get totally absorbed into their lives. It took you right back to that era and made you live it, it was awesome. IF it wasn’t why are so many people, months after it was cancelled, still asking for it back. Great, great show, bring us season 2 PLEASE!!
Bring back Swingtown!!!! This show was amazing… The characters were so relateable and totally easy to follow and you got so invested in them and their stories. That I feel totally cheated now not finding out what happens to everyone… Please bring it back!!!!!
this show is awesome and lately i have been hearing alot of buzz about it i think they should bring it back because i think people are finally renting the first season because of everyone talking about it!
This is disappointing, but not unexpected. This was too good for tv. Swingtown was a terrific show with compelling characters. It capture the mood of the 70’s perfectly, and finally I understand the adults I knew (babysat for, friends’ parents, etc.) and their sometimes craziness.
I absolutly agree with the positive comments about Swingtown. It was a fantastic show that actually made me want to be home to watch t.v. I as well am sick to death of all the reality garbage thats around. My husband and I were born in 1979, so we sadly missed the 70’s but this show seemed to give us a wonderful idea of what is was like. Please bring Swingtown back!!!
well well well, no surprise that CBS cancelled, CBS sucks. All their programming sucks except for Survivor. ALL their hour long dramtic series are dull, how many CSI’s could there be, how many cop show, all dull, all lame. Finally they bring this show on. I was stunned, it was great. Acting superb, terrific new and fresh idea, the ambience fabulous, a well done show that HBO was crazy to pass on. I will never buy the season on DVD even though I loved it and would die to have a second season, but because there is no ending I… Read more »
I absolutely loved Swingtown, as I am in love with both the 70’s and Chicago! I wish they would bring it back. It was a refreshing change from all the crap that is on TV lately. All the other shows seem the same to me, but this one was very different.
It’s a shame it was cancelled. It’s always the bad shows that seem to be kept for season upon season, and the good ones are scrapped.
There are alot of shows way more questionable than this show. If you don’t want to watch it turn the tv off. This was a great show and it’s a shame we’ll never know how it ended… I’m sick to death of all the trauma, cop, reality shows. John & Kate + 8, Wife Swap please…. give me a break! This was a great night time drama. Let’s be grown up about this, it’s not a childrens show after all… CBS is notorious for keeping the lousy shows and getting rid of the good ones! Bravo should claim it and… Read more »
I LOVE SWINGTOWN!!! How can you leave a show hanging up in the air like that, it needs to be brought back.
It was the one show my husband and I both enjoyed watching together, and wasn’t a reality show, there are too many of those now.
Bring it back, please.
I LOVED this show it needs to come back!!! My husband and I were looking forward to seeing it in this summer
I miss it. I want it back.
loved it!. I heard on the news in the Montreal area that their “club house” for the swing parties had burned and they had to close their doors for 4 weeks…this made headlines! anyway i like that they reach out to various audience! i honestly think that having a second season …this will attract new viewers! theres so much potential!
Swingtown was a great show and a blast from the past. I love the music and theme even though I’m TOTALLY not into the life style. The final episode was so good and left us all hanging.
BRING BACK SWINGTOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
that really blows I love love love this show!! I think that it should be reconsidered!!
Figures. Just when they come up with something fresh and having some real dialogue and issues that have merit, they pull it off the air. While it may seem silly to some, I enjoyed that music and the innocence of that time. Life is hard right now and it was a solace to the soul each week to tune in to SwingTown. These networks need to realize we may be just one.. but all together we all add up to– ratings. And we are getting tired of getting ‘into” a show and its characters, only to be made mad, sad… Read more »