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.
great show bring it back
wow realy why the only show on cbs that are good ncis the other nics, bluebloods and defenders and the good wife everything else could go
the defenders ,is an awesome show !!!! jerry and nick are great toghter .dont cancel another good show ….joe
Three shows that are worth watching, well four shows and the Defenders is number one on our list in this house. Now we cannot get that one. You must have some dumb bunnies picking out what shows to cut and what to keep.
The Defenders is one of the only shows that myhusband and I watched together. Jim Belushi did a great job and Jerry O’Connell made a good side kick. Please bring it back!!!
This is such a great show! It’s fun and the ensemble cast works very well together. Jim Belushi and Jerry O’Connell are wonderful actors and these characters fit them so well. Finally, CBS has something worth watching. Those so-called ‘reality’ shows are, in reality, nothing but crap. ‘The Defenders’ are easy on the eyes and the plotlines are always interesting. Come on, CBS! Give this most-deserving show a second chance – bring on the second season!
I gave you a second chance. I swore no more CBS when you all cancelled ‘Moonlight.’
The Defenders is a great show. Please leave it on. It is one of the best shows on t.v.
PLEASE don’t cancel The Defenders! This show is awesome, always with a good story line and interesting twists and turns! I am so sick of Reality TV and The Defenders is one of the few shows I look forward to every week!! BRING THE DEFENDERS BACK!!
PLease bring this show back. This show was one I look forward to seeing every week. I tired of all the other junk on TV. Now there is finally something good on TV and now you want to cancel it. Bring it back.
We loved this program as it had humor and was light.please bring it back .There is too much chaos and serious programs on. The defenders was most enjoyable….Please bring it back in the fall.
The Defenders was a much above average series. It should be renewed and given a favorable time slot. I am sick and tired of “reality” garbage; I want an excape from reality and the Defenders provides that.
FINALLY a great show and you want to cancel it. Come on…. this is good TV. Love the chemistry…. Keep it Please.
I was a dedicated watcher. The Defenfenders show was great. bring it back.
Love the show. If CBS cancels The Defenders, I’ll be moving to another channel to watch some other show! Chaos has taken their time-slot on Friday nights and I simply cannot watch that show or even listen to it! Put The Defenders back on! Just like another favorite ‘Shark’ with James Woods, if this one is cancelled, CBS will be on my black list!
Fantastic Show… very entertaining. Please bring it back!