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.
Wow! I thought the show was a hit! I was a little upset because Blue Blood was switched to their time slot – thinking Blue Blood was the series in trouble. (jokes on me) I watch both shows. If CBS thinks The Defenders should be canned, why did NBC come up with Harry’s Law? The show has to be doing something right. Come on CBS, return The Defenders…at least until you know what NBC does with their show.
Love the defenders!! Reminds me of a funnier Shark(Which I also miss). Nice pair for a great commedy. Hope it stays, I watch it after Crimminal Minds every week. Good switch from serious crime to commedy crime.
I loved this show. It is one of the best shows on tv. Why would you cancel it? Bring it back. I was surprised that blue bloods was taking its place on that day and time slot. What happened? PUT IT BACK ON THE AIR, PLEASE.
the definders best show on wend night please keep it on
Keep The Defenders going! It’s the best television “legal” show ever!
PLEASE BRING BACK THE DEFENDERS! IT IS THE GREATEST SHOW. IT.S A VERY GOOD COMEDY! I WAS WATCHING IT EVERY WEEK, NOW IT.S GONE!
PLEASE PLEASE BRING THAT SHOW BACK PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!
KEEP DEFENDERS!
Dump Blue Bloods
I like the show. It is 100 per cent better than Hawaii 50 and Blue Bloods. Please keep the good shows.
Please keep The Defenders, Criminal Minds, and The Defenders. Finally, some great shows, don’t mess with perfection.
I really enjoy the show!
I hope this show stays on. It is my husband and my favorite show!!! It has it all, drama and comedy!
I love “The Defenders” – it’s one of the few really good new shows. I am hopeful that CBS doesn’t do something stupid and cancel it. I think putting Blue Blood in thier time slot is a mistake. Although i like Blue Blood certainly they could find a different spot for it and leave The Defenders…but as long as they don’t cancel it I’ll find where they moved it eventually. Come on CBS – you need more than one good hit and this is it!
My wife and I want to keep the show on the air.
The Defenders is the first tv lawyer show that has a serious side as well as bits of comedy thrown in. Of all the new shows this year, The Defenders is #1 followed by Mike and Molly, Hawaii 50 and lastly Blue Bloods. They are all good shows but for me this is my order of preference. Your existing shows that I like are Big Bang Theory, The Mentalist, csi, csi ny, and especially criminal minds. I also like 48 hrs. 2 and1/2 men. I hate your tues night line up. The good wife sucks, and the ncis that I… Read more »
I’m with Grandma Gert 100% I don’t want to see this show end.