Tonight marks the final episode of The Defenders for the season. How likely is the CBS freshman series to be back next fall with season two?
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 TV show stars veterans Jerry O’Connell and Jim Belushi as well as Jurnee Smollett, Tanya Fischer, and Gillian Vigman.
For its premiere, the series 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 now-cancelled, The Whole Truth.
Unfortunately, The Defenders’ audience slowly eroded over the course of the season and by January had hit a new low of a 1.5 rating in the demo and 6.81 million viewers. CBS switched the series to Fridays in February and, not surprisingly, the ratings got worse. On Fridays, Defenders has averaged a 1.3 demo rating and that’s worse than what now-cancelled Medium was getting in the same timeslot.
If you look at the season averages, The Defenders is one of CBS’ worst performers. Though the network has not officially cancelled it yet, it is hard to imagine that CBS execs would consider renewing it for a second season.
What do you think? Should The Defenders be cancelled? Why do you think the series hasn’t attracted a bigger audience?
Image courtesy CBS.
I think the Defenders is a GREAT show and we LOVE it. All of the main characters have great chemistry together. I think the networks keep messing with these shows and moving them around until people just forget they are on. Why does a show have to get moved around? Leave them alone and give them a decent chance. Supposedly, it was doing well in the Wednesday night time slot and then it was moved. It gets confusing!!!!! LEAVE IT ON THE AIR!!!!! If you replace it, we usually get crap in return.
My favorite show.Please don’t cancel the defenders I love that show and Jim Balucci makes the show.
Renew!!!Good lighthearted series. Back to 9pm. Give it a decent lead then leave it alone. It had several interruptions because of specials. Give it another chance.
Friday is a graveyard.
Just finished watching the season finale and thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope CBS finds a time slot and sticks with it next season.
I used to watch the CSI’s, but they all seem stuck on serial killers, usually with a young, attractive (and white) series of victims. They’ve run out of steam for me. Defenders is lighter in tone but very entertaining.
I love the show!!! I think its light and funny and its nice to watch a show that is not some horrific case of blood and guts and mutilation. Keep it on!!
No the defenders shouldnt be canceled. Hey cbs put on another cop show.
Keep it. It is great. Get a better time slot.
Give it a break ..One of the better shows on t.v. ….Trust me……Frank
Renew it!! I love The Defenders!!!
Personally I like Defenders. Initially I worried it was just another lawyer show, but I’ve grown to enjoy the show. That said, it does have a certain element of “meh”. I think the problem is that the lead characters are TOO nice, and the writers have hardly explored the back stories of the lead characters or their female lawyer protege (she’s a former stripper! They’ve hardly addressed that!). I can watch “Law and Order” if I want to see the legal wrangling. That’s not why I tune in to “The Defenders”. I really want to get to know our lead… Read more »
I love this show…please don’t cancel it..
it is a great show………cancel Molly and Mike or that other comedy that follows the big bang the actors are ok but the shows are terrible………
PLEASE do NOT cancel The Defenders. I find it one of the most refreshing, interesting shows on TV. The plots are well written and the actors play their roles to perfection. Please continue The Defenders! Thank You!
Do not cancel. It is a very good show. Friday night is one of the worst nights to put it on and especially in an early time slot. People go out to eat on Friday night. I have been an advid TV watcher for years. This is one of the better tv shows. Little humor with some drama. Very good acting. Do something right for a change. Leave it on. Move to another night. That crapy criminal minds (the new one). Give me a break. I like Forest, but his sidekick – the short one (positively not). Jim Belushi and… Read more »
yes it should come back for a second season. Its both drama and comedy. And especially being in the court room it has antics that are very good. Jim needs a winner after According to jim and jerry hasn’t found a long lasting home on tv yet. (do not disturb and shortly on crossing Jordan) Com on CBS give this show a fair chance. You don’t put a struggling show on Fridays, it’s just not smart. Or cancel, CBS is still in the lead for shows but cancelinf the denfenders may give NBC or ABC a chance to get to… Read more »