This news doesn’t come as a surprise. CBS has pulled their new Saturday night drama, The Bridge, after just three episodes. Though it’s been cancelled in the US, the TV show will continue.
The Bridge follows Frank Leo (Aaron Douglas), a charismatic cop who’s voted unanimously to become the leader of the police union. He ends up fighting crime on the streets while also battling corruption on the force. The series features Douglas, Frank Cassini, Michael Murphy, Ona Grauer, Paul Popowich, and Theresa Joy.
The TV show debuted on Saturday, July 10th with two episodes. Per the overnights, the first episode attracted a tiny 0.5 rating in the 18-49 demographic and just 2.98 million viewers. It was easily beaten by repeats of Cops and America’s Funniest Home Videos.
The second episode of The Bridge drew a 0.5 rating in the demo and viewership increased to a still meager 3.51 million. It was trounced by America’s Most Wanted but did beat a repeat of ABC’s struggling Scoundrels.
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Last Saturday night, the show’s ratings dropped even lower, to a 0.3 rating in the demo and 2.88 million viewers. It came in last place in the demo and third place in total viewers (beating NBC’s Persons Unknown).
The network has clearly not had any faith in the TV show from the beginning, airing it on the least-watched night of TV. The network has pulled it off the schedule with 10 unaired episodes left. Cancelled Cold Case reruns will take their place. CBS has made no indication that they plan to air the remaining Bridge installments at a later date or make them available online.
In Canada, it’s another story for The Bridge. CTV began airing the series in March and completed the season in May. The run was successful enough for CTV to order a second season for Canadian viewers.
Unfortunately, unless another network decides to pick up the series, it doesn’t look like viewers in the United States will see the rest of season one or season two.
What do you think? Did you like The Bridge? Should it have been cancelled by CBS? Would you watch it on another channel or on DVD?
Image courtesy CBS.
I guess demographics wins out again. My wife and I never watch all those lousy Reality Show. Their cheap for the networks but they don’t care what people really want to watch. They produce what makes them money regardless if it’s good or bad. My wife and I enjoyed the show even though we only had the opportunity to view 2 episodes. It was listed for Saturday July 31 in our TV Guide but wasnt shown and NO Information regarding the show on the Network Website, nor the local affiliate. I had to Google the show only to find out… Read more »
I liked “the Bridge”. That’s a pretty poor way to run a network: canceling a show that only aired 3 episodes & on the one night everybody but me has a Life and is elsewhere.
It was really taut and engaging. I was there all the way. Stupid management!
It’s a shame “The Bridge” was cancelled by CBS. It’s a
good, intense cop drama with no pretty boy heroes or B.S. heroics. Just cops trying to do their duty from within a terribly beauracratic system. Could CBS reconsider or perhaps maybe one of the cable networks could pick it up? If all else fails is there any way we could order DVDs of the show?
The Bridge was a well-written show with above average acting. It was really engrossing and its hard to believe CBS cancelled it after two broadcasts. We rarely watch commercial TV and now we are watching one hour less! Bring it back.
I thought it was one of the best cop dramas to date. Very disappointing. Just another reason I’ve strayed away from CBS. The producers should try to get on a better network.
This is one of the best new shows this year and you take it off with out giving it a chance. You could have given it a better time slot. I would buy the DVD . I’m so upset you have done this before alot of people get sick of reality shows. The Laddens from Lima,Ohio
I enjoyed The Bridge. Too bad CBS had no faith and gave it lousy time slot.
My husband and I watched the show and have been searching all over for it to reappear. I decided to search for it on the web and learn it has been cancelled. What a disappointment. It is one of the best t.v. cop shows I have seen in a very long time. AND I would be glad to see it on Friday or Saturday night. I can understand that Saturday would not be a good night for reviews being the weekend. I agree it was not given a fair chance. What a pity!
Why…Why….Why! Just when there was finally something worth watching on a saturday night!!!
This was a great show, good actors, actual plots. I was looking forward to watching it. Bring it back!!!!!
For anyone interested in trying to bring back “The Bridge,” please sign the online petition
to bring it back. If enough people sign the petition, CBS might reconsider their hasty and
ill conceived cancelation of the show. Check this website for where to find the petition.
Very frustrating that every time an intelligent show with strong interesting characters comes along, it gets canceled. Is this what our society has come to????? Where “reality” shows are our only choice of tv shows? I hope this show is available through DVD so us fans can continue to watch it and CBS won’t get a dime!
Hope it comes back as a mid season replacement for something REALLY lousy. This show was fun.
I’m again disappointed by the short sighted management at CBC… Saturday night time slot, no promos or other reminders… I’d say they decided before it had even been aired… I watch a lot of CBC Dramas, but I’m getting pretty tired of what the networks offer.. I’d watch The Bridge on any other network… in fact I wish we could get more Canadian Dramas… The Bridge and Flashpoint are as good as anything produced anywhere…
I really enjoyed the show. I don’t think three weeks during the summer months and on the toughest night….Saturday was a fair test of the show’s potential. Sad.