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 really good show. And like Sue this was a show my boyfriend and I could agree on. We even recorded it for each other if one of us was not at home. I have very few T.V. shows that I feel are can’t miss. ABC’s “Life on Mars” was another and sadly I had to say good-bye to that one too. I do hope some one picks up “Swingtown”. I watch very few shows on CBS I personally find the shows on there to be a bit stale for my tastes. I thought finally a cool ADULT… Read more »
To Elaine: Thanks for the Bravo info. I just went to their site and left a comment reiterating my love of Swingtown.
Fingers crossed everyone!
I cannot believe that Swingtown is not coming back!! This was one of the few shows that my husband I could agree on! I would think that the cable channels would at least have picked it up for another season. I had a feeling from the start that CBS would not take it very far – I was glad that they at least finished season 1 – but the cable channels put on some of the most ridiculous shows, and then pass on Swingtown?! I just can’t believe it.
I loved Swingtown. I told my husband about it and he didn’t think he would enjoy it, but the first time he saw it, he was hooked, too! It even made us think about exploring a little more in our love life…Bring Swingtown back!!!
Keep Swingtown on!!!!!!! The show was GREAT…..You network people just put it in a wrong time slot….Dont you know that people dont really watch TV on Friday night, the’re our partying. I dont care who’s airing it just put it back…..
We love this show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish it would come back for a second season. This was my Friday night! Bring it back!!!!!!!!!!!
This was our weekday highlight! We loves this show and hoped it would be back this summer…
season 2 is a must have, what a joke to not continue
Cancell Swingtown??? are you guys crazy??? BEST show ever. Start season 2 footage now plzzzz.
Swingtown was the best!!!!! I watched every episode, and I loved it! Please Bravo, air it. I can’t wait for season 2!
Loved this show!!!!!!! I hope Bravo airs Season 2
We love it! It’s amazing how shows that are good on any network will get cancelled and they keep showing the bed ones (like Boston Legal). I think CBS did Swingtown an unjustice when they moved it to Friday night, it was like they did it on purpose. Come on move it from a night it is doing well to a Friday night – a night when the adults who watched in would be out to dinner or out for the evening….Friday night was not a good choice – thank goodness we could record it. And now with CBS/Fischer not… Read more »
I think it’s terrible that the show was cancelled. I think it was great, as do all my friends.
I really liked swingtown. I think it should be re run and then continued. It was new and showed real people and their faults and good sides.
I loved this show, as well, and blogged it regularly as I work in TV media. My suggestion has been to make this a summer limited run show, starting as the first one did on Memorial Day and going through Labor Day. There would be a baby, a divorce, a new pairing of couples. It would be awesome. If you agree, I suggest you contact a couple of networks. Here is the info: CBS, 51 West 52nd Street, New York, NY 10019 212-975-4321 Bravo, 30 Rockefeller Plaza Floor 14 East , New York, NY 10112 1-800-531-0002 http://www.bravotv.com/ And the network… Read more »