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.
 Loading ... |
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.
Please do not cancel this show, I look forward to Wednesday because of this show. It is very entertaining. I DVR this show every week.
Keep the show, it is very entertaining.
I watched this entertaining show every Wednesday, and if I could not I recorded it for later viewing. James Belushi and Jerry O’Connell play well off each other making for humourous and intelligent acting. The writing of course is the key and I appreciate their talent in choosing quirky and interesting plots. Please keep this show on your schedule. I was disappointed to hear that Blue Blood had been placed in the Defenders time slot because I also watched it on Fridays, and now I must wait to see where you will put the Defenders. You know you will keep… Read more »
I love this show. It is difficult to have any TV shows that give you a lift with lots of laughter. I loved the change from all the dark Law and Orders and CSI Crime shows.
I think this a great and unique show. I would be disappointed if CBS cancelled it.
I think this is a great show, with a unique setting. I would be
very disappointed if CBS cancelled it. They need to settle in on
a time slot and quite moving it around.
great show , funny keeps me watching , I hate the reality shows
Great show! I look forward to it each week.
Please keep the show Defenders. I enjoy wathing Jim and Jerry playing awesome lawyers. What CBS should do is get rid of Reality TV, and I am a person under 49 years of age. Keep Defenders.
great show!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wonderful show. I liked Wed nite but will learn to like
Friday nite. Enjoy it immensely. Wouldn’t miss it!
Love this show, would hate to see it go. Hope they’ll renew.
Bad script. How can a defender sell out his own client. Not much of a defender!!
I’m done with this sell out series. sorry.
1-12-11 cant get the night right, and defenders sell out their clients. Not much substance to get loyal about. Sell out the series of sell out lawyers. show of 1-12-11
Please keep this show my wife and I love watching it every week. Great cast and wonder if it would be more popular in a different time slot.
the networks always end up giving the ax to good shows like this one!! but they jump on crappy reality shows! i get enough reality, thank you very much! please keep this one!!