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! 
Please produce a season 2 & 3 and 4 for that matter, what a great show and so sad that it had such a short life. My partner & I are hooked, the cast, storyline and themes are more than meet the eye. Don’t just a book (or TV servies) by it’s cover – the storyline tells of far more than the title claims.
BRING IT BACK!!!! PLEASE!!!!
I LOVED SWINGTOWN, EVERYNIGHT WHEN ME AND MY HUSBAND GOT HOME FROM WORK WE’D EAT DINNER THEN SETTLE DOWN TO WATCH SWINGTOWN!!!! WE LOVE THE SHOW! WE BOUGHT THE DVD AND WE WANT IT BACK!!!
Please bring Swingtown back – we loved it and miss it — Now that summer is coming we would really enjoy escaping into there town!!!!
I need this show back on TV ,it’s the perfect escape from a boring marriage!
Bring back Swingtown!
Loved it… Great actors and writing. Shame HBO never kept it. The potential is unlimited. So many great sub plots within the show. Great cast of actors. Anyone who passed on this must have had the stupid switch on. Time to rethink.
I really enjoyed this show wish they would bring it back i am going to buy the
DVD’S ..
please……..bring back Swingtown! My husband and I both loved the show!!
please bring the show back for wife’s sake, and she is pregnant…
It’s amazing that this show continues to have a following even years after it’s been canceled! Maybe now that Nip/Tuck is ending, the cable’s “powers that be” will realize how perfect Swingtown is for cable. Plus the marketing potential is great. Vintage tee sirts are very poular, and I loved the music. I’d buy the sound track if there was one!
Please bring this show back….I loved it. Just pruchase season 1 on dvd…
I LOVED LOVED LOVED this show!! I Wish someone would pick it up ! I thought it was great and I want it back on the air NOW!!!
Well, with Roger now on Cougartown I don’t know how it could happen. I wish it would, though! There’s not much out there worth watching.
Thank goodness for Netflix. I am watching repeats, well, repeatedly. The writing, the cast, the filming, the script … all top notch.
BRAVO … give us our Swingtown if you can!
please bring this show back! It had such a terrific story line, and like a few others have said on here, a really “feel good” feeling to it. It is such a shame that they dont think they can make it work, even though there seem to be plenty of followers. I think the problem is that they didnt promote it enough! I didnt even hear about the show till it was already through the season, so i rented the whole season, and watched them all and fell in love!!
pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez bravo , work it , make it happen , soo many people i know are hoping you can be smarter than cbs , misss the show more than any other show ever luv u bravo if that helps