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.
Very entertaining show and CBS should pick it up for another season. Jim Belushi is a well liked guy and I can see him shopping it to another network. Could happen and I hope so if CBS cancels it.
I am so tired of these networks not giving a show a chance anymore. It seems like if a show does not well right away, they just want to dump it. Hey cbs, leave this one on longer. I do not want to see another obnoxious useless reality show. Leave the defenders alone
My husband and I love the Defenders. Everytime a great show comes on that is an interest to the older viewers, they take it off. We do not like all the reality shows and have found ourselves going to cable shows to watch series. Please leave the Defenders on. We have been watching it every week and absolutely love. It is fun, great, and a fabulous show. The networks seem to get trigger happy about pulling good shows off the air. Give it a couple of seasons. It will grow.
Great Show! My wife and I watch it each and every week. We for two hope it doesn’t get the hook.
I love The Defenders and I hope they never take it off,whoever the person is that says she doesn’t like Jim Belushi then do not watch keep it for the rest of us looking for a great show to watch
keep it love the show
Cancel! I can’t understand how Jim Belushi continues to get acting jobs – he is the worst!
Love the Defenders. It is light hearted and funny. love the cast.
I love this show. Jim Belushui and Jerry O’Connell make a very good team and have a lot of chemistry. PLEASE KEEP IT ON AIR!!!!
one of the best shows i have seen in a long time. i try to make sure i am home every monday nite so i can watch it. please do not cancel this show.
My wife and I really enjoy the Defenders. We are afraid they are going to cancel it. We certainly hope it isn’t cancelled. We have seen every episode.
The Defender is a very good show. Both actores play well off each other. Leave it on.
Charlie Wortham
Love the show The Defenders, please renew. This is a fun show.
My son Jack and I love this show with both of these actors and really look forward every Wednesday and will really missed it if the show is cancelled.
The Defenders is a fun show, it makes one smile, which is what many of us need today, Please let it find it’s following.
I have had a bad feeling about this show since day one. It’s a very good show, but unfortunatley networks seem to be plug pulling happy, so if the show doesn’t catch on immediatley then I always worry about how long it will last. It’s really sad, and I hope I am wrong, this is a really entertaining show and I am in the key demo, and my Parents also enjoy it. I love the setting, I think Las Vegas is a great place to set a show and I’m surprised that it rarely happens. The last show I know… Read more »