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 LOVE this show!!!!!!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE bring it back!!!!! It has such a keep ya on the edge of your seat story!!!!! Don’t cancel this show it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am SOOO upset that there will not be another season! This was such a wonderfully written show. WAY better than day time soaps. I don’t understand why it’s going away???? CBS & BRAVO I am so sad. Poor job on your part.
I’m disappointed that there will not be another season. I enjoyed the first season so much. There is so many things that were left with no answers. Hope you reconcider and have a season 2.
a great new show for the boring Friday nights. I LOVED watching Swingtown. I guess you would have to have grown up in the 70’s to appreciate the show the most! CBS , give this show another chance. There are many viewers that would love for you to bring it back and not to cable. There are plenty of other crappy shows that should have been taken off the air and they are still there.
I really wish someone would consider a season 2. Season 1 was so entertaining it will be a void to Friday night television. The season 1 finale was set up for a season 2. Someone needs to run with it. CBS is making a big mistake this time.
I’m so disappointed by this! I watched every episode when it aired on CBS and then watched the marathon on Bravo. I was excited for a new season!! I know alot of people who liked this show as well. Now we’ll never know what happened! 🙁
I loved watching this show. I would LOVE Season 2!! Someone PLEASE MAKE SEASON 2!!!
I think that u did not give the show a fair chance, I loved watching it and really would like to see it come back on. I also know of lots of people who enjoyed watching the show as well. I think choosing not to air this show is a BIG, HUGE mistake on your part. I too would like to see what happened to everyone, it’s not fair to leave the viewer’s hagging.
They should really put out a new season of Swingtown. I LOVE the show and have MANY friends that do too. I love the 70’s and the outfits were great. Now we will never know what happend when you left all of the fans wanting more at the end of season 1. Did Tom and Trina have the baby and was everything ok between them? Did Susan and Bruce really split up? Did Janet and Roger split up? Did Susan and Roger end up together? See these are things now we will never know if there is not a season… Read more »
I watched all 13 episodes and loved it… They need a season 2!
Someone please save Swingtown!
The cast, plot and music are all wonderful. This is a show with substance and a whole lot of potential. I am completely disappointed in CBS and I hope that another network will step up and bring this show back! If not, well, what a waste…
To say that Swingtown is a good show is like saying that McDonald’s sells a whole lot of cheeseburgers. Unlike Mickey D’s or shows like Survivor, Swingtown is opulent with substance–even though it’s set in a specific time, the subjects of love, marriage, sexuality, family, friends and security (both personal & financial) are timeless. More than a hybrid of Boogie Nights and The Wonder Years, Swingtown more than holds its own with the likes of Big Love, Weeds, and Six Feet Under–and it’s a primetime show! As if this wasn’t enough, the actors are top-notch, the soundtrack is tight, and… Read more »
All of the Networks would rather put cheap low quality programming on to make the most money, they dont actually care about their consumers. a good example of this, is the way they achieve their ratings from the neilsen system, which doesnt reflect anyone watching the show from Tivo , DVR , or anything other than when it originally aired. and to top that off you would have to have the neilsen box in your home or be apart of their survey system to actually be counted and participate in giving them feedback for them to create their rating.. who… Read more »
What an awesome show! It brought back great memories of growing up in the 70’s and the writing is truly astonishing. I love the characters, the story lines and of course, the music., I am so disappointed that there isn’t going to be a Season 2. Please bring it back!!! There is so much crap on TV/Cable these days, what a waste it would be to let this program completely disappear. We need more shows like this for the 40-50 yr old crowd. I think there are enough teeny bopper and young adult shows to last for a long while.… Read more »
I am so disappointed that there is not going to be a second season of Swingtown. This was one of the main TV shows I looked forward to watching each week. Now we will never get to see the whole story line.