Back in the 1960’s, CBS had a successful courtroom series starring E.G. Marshall and Robert Reed. Now, CBS has premiered a very different legal TV show with the same name, The Defenders. The first one ran for four seasons. Will the new version outlast it or be quickly cancelled?
The Defenders follows a pair of lawyers operating out of Las Vegas. They’ll do just about anything for their Sin City clients, often taking on cases no one else will touch, and try to keep their sanity while doing it. The new TV show stars Jerry O’Connell, Jim Belushi, Jurnee Smollett, Tanya Fischer, and Gillian Vigman.
In its first week on the air, The Defenders dominated its timeslot with a 2.9 in the coveted 18-49 demographic and 12.2 million total viewers. That put the new show in first place in both categories and essentially doubled the performance of ABC’s new law show, The Whole Truth.
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On the downside, Defenders did lose 27% of the demo audience from lead-in Criminal Minds. It also lost viewers during the hour but that wasn’t huge. In the same timeslot, last year’s CSI: NY scored a much better 4.0 and 15.06 million.
Ultimately though, The Defenders had a solid premiere (especially if you compare it to Whole Truth). If they can retain or grow the audience, CBS should be quite happy with this new drama. They certainly can use it since some of their returning dramas have been around for quite some time and have been showing audience declines.
But, what do you think? Did you tune in? Is The Defenders a show that you’d watch week after week or would you rather see it cancelled?
Image courtesy CBS.
I love the show. Two tough guys with a softer side. Just enough comedy to make it lighthearted at times but not too much to take away from some of the tougher issues it touches on, like cell phones and driving. In a world of entertainment that is dominated by shock value and the more guesome and twisted, the better, it’s nice to see a show that can still captivate you for an hour and make you feel good even once it is over.
This show absolutely surprised me. The acting by Jim and Jerry is stellar, and the banter couldn’t be better. I can’t account for the plot just yet, it’s only three shows in and they’ve won all their cases so far, but it has potential to be a truly enjoyable and intelligent comedy.
This show’s based on true lawyers. Jerry O’Connel and Belushi had to follow them around and learn about their lives. It’s a great show about two goofballs that practice law with wit and sarcasm – the only way to deal with our judicial system!
Keep iT!
I love this show!!!! KEEP IT
I think it is surprisingly good. With so many court shows, it has a good cast and a little different twist.
This is a stupid show that should be cancelled. The premise is simply ludicrous.
I thought this show was stupid, and the format is ridiculous. I vote cancel it.
Absolutely worth keeping. It was good. And it was funny too. Jim and Jerry go great together playing lawyers. I hope we a got a real winner here. But I hope it can survive in the old CSI NY timeslot. Really these crime type shows involving lawyers and cops aren’t gonna stop anytime soon. I mean Law & order with more than 2 spin-offs, the C.S.I. shows, the new ABC show the Whole truth, Bones and a bunch of others. Maybe some didn’t catch on like they should have and were canceled. But a good show from CBS, they still… Read more »
AWFUL SHOW -COMPLETELY REDICULOUS –CANCEL THIS BOMB!!
I thought it was kinda cheesy. They are trying to be too cutesy.
Awesome show. I just hope that it doesn’t take everyone away from The Whole Truth.
This show is great — it differentiates itself from all the other legal drama’s with its focus on delving into the lawyers’ personal lives rather than being a strict procedural. It also boasts some excellent comedic writing. This is going to be a hit!
I love this Show… it was great and It was nice to have a Show that lighten Up the mood after Crimial Minds!! Keep Show!
Loved the show; and I too am a defender.
I missed it because of L & O SVU return being two hours, but I plan on trying it next week. I think I would like it.