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 it. It is fun, they play off each other well. Not too intense yet has some good storylines that you wonder how they can ever overcome the obstacles to win the cases.
I LOVE THIS SHOW!!!!! I WAS HOOKED ON CSI, BUT NOW IT THE DEFENDERS. WHO DID THE OPENING THEME SONG?
I love this show. The two of them make for a funny show. I do not want to see it cancelled.
I am loving this show. It is funny and doesn’t take itself too seriously like law dramas usually do. It is more of a drama/comedy. I set my dvr.
LOVE THIS SHOW! The characters grow on you. All their little idiosynchrosies. Good balance of characters. I look forward to watching it every week.
Keep the show. It’s a decent courtroom show, that has fairly decent characters. Believe me, there are a whole lot worse shows that have been on for years.
Keep The Defenders!!
love it! keep it!
absolutely love this show, i look foward to watching it every week. they are a great pair and make me laugh every episode. keep it!!!!
keep it love the show
I LOVE this show! I watch all the CSI and NCIS Shows and this show is lighter, actually funny at times and these guys just Grow on you! I love the “Tender” side of Nick and the crazy side of Jerry. They are an awesome team! It’s fun, its sweet and it has “real” people in it. Not ALL Detective shows have to make you tense!! This is a terrific show to watch when you want to relax and smile at the TV. I say KEEP KEEP KEEP it! Bad enough 2 of my shows have already been canceled on… Read more »
Finally a show that is not stupid. Love it.
Awesome Show, don’t cancel it would be a shame.
CANCEL IT. Unfunny and unwatchable.
Absolutely love it! It’s well written, acted, and just plain fun.
CANCEL IT!!! Belushi sucks at this role, cuz he’s a comedian!! Didn’t like Jerry in Jordan either.