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 this show. It is Great. Leave it on.
This show has great actors and it is interesting unlike alot of the other crap out there.
LEAVE IT ON! Fun show without all the blood & gore – but still interesting. No big anti this and anti that like Harry’s Law – which came on just to try to kill Castle (which it will never do) You are on top CBS – between this and Blue Bloods you’re cookin!
Great Show……never miss it. Has humor and mystery all in one. I love the look of the way the guys dress…..very hot!
Don ‘t take it off!!!!
Come on guys let’s keep this one. It’s good and the chemistry of all the actors work well togeter. The six people in our house votes to keep
The ONLY show I NEVER MISS…….NEVER!
KEEP IT!
PLease Keep it as it is funny and interesting as well! Love It!
Keep It Please! I love it: I tape it to view later: I did this when it was opposite The Whole Truth which I also loved! I had several shows I enjoyed very much but someone decided to cancel them. It is hard to watch all the good ones at the same time so we tape them. Just like Mon. nights. I tape Castle, Hawii Five O and Harry’s Law. All good shows and worth watching as were Chase and Outlaw. Oops someone took them off also. Shame on them!
Please do not cancel this show. I know so many people who love it. It is the fastest half hour (after Blue Bloods) on TV. It is wonderful to watch a light, funny legal show. We give it top ratings. CBS, are you sure you know what you are doing?? Worst case – could not you make it a summer series at least??
Please don’t cancel the defenders I love this show and look forward to watching each week even my friends love it . Its been quite some time since Ive seen such an entertaining show . Give it a chance you have two great actors here and one great program.
I’m burnt out with the blood and gore. THE DEFENDERS is funny, positive, light, but clever and entertaining. DON’T CANCEL THIS SHOW!!! I’m getting burnt out on CSI heavy, depressing, violent episodes. Let this show have a longer chance to take hold. I’m a baby-boomer and if I like it, I know a ton more will. Let this survive another season at least.. COME ON!!!
DO NOT CANCEL. LOVE THE DEFENDERS!!!!!!!!
LUV THIS SHOW!!!! REALLY GUYS, COME ON? TAKE OFF GOOD STUFF LEAVE THE CRAP, SOOOO CBS!!!
Keep The Defenders on. Not to many good shows around
Please continue this series. It is cute and fun. Doesn’t show gory and bloody stuff of some of the other shows that get rather disgusting.