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! 
This was a great show, I loved it. Please bring it back for more seasons.
I cant believe how CBS just crushes their fans by putting together great talent and good writing and then just lets it go by the way so they can put on another one of those dumb reality shows.
I guess when they get down and out and have little to no money to work with or pay themselves it will be those execs. standing in line in Washington for a handout…..
Please don’t let the show go it’s good and has a place in our world on how we live, eat and die…………
PLEASE BRING BACK SWINGTOWN. I LOVED THIS SHOW THEY CAN’T LEAVE IT LIKE IT IS THEY AT LEAST NEED TO MAKE A 2 HR SHOW TO END IT RIGHT NOT JUST KEEP US HANGING….
I am so sad that this show was canceled! Granted summer is a hard time of year for a show to have great ratings but I would always DVR it if I knew I wasn’t going to be home. I actually just finished watching the Season Finale a few minutes ago, reliving some of the last moments of the show, and really want to know what happened with Susan and Roger in the hotel room…or if Trina decided to keep the baby…maybe by some stroke of luck,someone will have the presence of mind to shoot a 2nd season!
SWINGTOWN IS A GREAT SHOW,A PERFECTLY PICKED CAST. IF THEY WOULD HAVE KEPT IT ON THURSDAY,MAYBE THERE WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN A DROP IN RATING’S, REMINDS ME OF WHEN THEY CANCELED “MY SO CALLED LIFE” AFTER THE FIRST SEASON…..BRING BACK SWINGTOWN!
The people at CBS are idiots for cancelling this show. I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that viewers need a break from all the police dramas that CBS is playing right now. They are all the same and almost always so obtuse I fall asleep 15 minutes into it. Swingtown is (was) a great show. Anytime I had anyone over at my house to watch it, they converted (lol). But seriously, bring it back, and put it in a better time slot. Better yet, play it in the fall to increase viewing. Summer shows rarely make it.
This show is GREAT. I can’t believe they would cancel this show. There are so many boring shows out there and finally a good one comes along and they take it off after one season. I looked forward to Swingtown every week. Please some put this show back on for a season two.
Some one please bring this show back . Bravo I know for a fact that you guys wont be disappointed if you decide to have a season two. Please .
I absolutely love this show. It gave me a reason to look forward to Friday night TV. What are they thinking in taking off this GREAT show? There is not much else out there that can compare in terms of entertainment, quality acting, and great storylines. I miss Swingtown!!! Please Bravo, CBS, somebody..bring it back for season 2!
That show is the best! I loved it, it better come back. I want to know what happened with Susan and Bruce and everyone.
This show is awesome. They better not cancel it -especially not on that cliffhanger ending. I looked forward to this show every week and would DVR it religously.
Great cast -superb acting and writing and the songs chosen for the episodes were awesome. Come on CBS -I am swearing your network off after this. Everytime this network hooks me in they cancel the show. Let’s hope a cable network is smart enough to pick it up and renew it.
I loved the show! The 70’s was my favorite decade. The soundtrack was great, brought back so many memories. Don’t forget that we babyboomers are a big majority of the viewing audience! I We NEED more episodes. I would love to see the storylines continue. Please bring this show back!!!
Have you considered the baby boomer population (which is quite large). Bringing back such a nostalgic era was thrilling to my circle of friends. We couldn’t wait for the next episode to air and by not continuing this show with so many loyal viewers is stupid on the part of the network. You have a great hit with Swingtown and you don’t even realize it. Stop the neilsons and get with the population! BRING IT BACK!!
I miss Swingtown! I was one of the people absolutely hooked on the show.
Please bring it back! It was a refreshing to see something new and different! It had a great story line and I miss the show!
The characters were all great! BRING IT BACK!
I hope they figure something out for season two. I absolutely loved this show. Whether it was on Thursdays or Fridays I watched it. It actually gave me a reason to stay home on a Friday night!! I was also quite bummed that they took Lipstick Jungle off. BRING EM BACK!!!