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 really enjoy this show No much shoot-em-up-bang-bang. There enough antics to make up for the boring bodies and blood. The principles do a great job and I can only hold a good thought for them.
Please leave “The Defenders” on!! It is the only thing worth watching this season on network TV. The reality shops stink and are stupid! Thanks for listening!
They should give it another shot. I absolutely LOVE this show!! I’m sorry, but I don’t think the low ratings had anything to do with people not liking it and everything to do with CBS trying to raise ratings of another show. The show started on a good note and then all of the sudden disappeared from the TV listings. We recorded it and went to watch it later that night, but it was some other show. I couldn’t find it anywhere. I have search capabilities on my cable box for two weeks ahead and I kept looking and kept… Read more »
Please keep The Defenders. The cast, story lines and humor are all wonderful. I also enjoyed the addition of Dan Akroyd. I believe it is thought provoking and allows the lawyers to present different sides of view. Most of all it is enjoyable to watch and I look forward to each episode. Promote it and it will gain in popularity instead of switching it and ignoring it. You can make it succeed, so please keep it.
An adult show that needs to be kept on TV. It needs another chance to prove it has staying power.
Putting Griffith on the show in the last episode killed its credibility. That was reaching into the gutter
Start over. Kill this one
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT CANCEL THE DEFENDERS!!!! I love this show!!! Jim Belushi and the whole cast are GREAT! Love the old time actors who drop in too! Keeps it fresh! For those who don’t watch – probably catch up online, like I do.
KEEP IT!
I enjoy this show. Love the humor and the story lines. Good writing…. Please don’t cancel.
One of only 2 shows I look forward to seeing. Keep it going
Don’t cancel but give it a more adult time slot. It’s light but serious. Belusi is great and Jerry perfect as his partner. Don’t cancel now just when Jerry got his new wheels>
Joe McLaughlin
Hope they don’t cancel The Defenders! Really look forward to this show just wish it was on another night. I record it and watch it later.
I Love this show, cant they find a different time slot?
Please don’t cancel The Defenders! I feel it really wasn’t given a fighting chance. It is very well written and I look forward to watching it each week. Also, The Good Wife and the CSI’s are some of my favorite shows. Please keep these quality shows on TV!
I know right? What are these execs up too? The Defenders is a very well written show and your right it should be given more of a fighting chance!
It would be a real shame if it got canceled! There are so few really good shows on TV. Just a bunch of reality (UGH) shows and soft porn disguised as poorly written night-time soap-operas. PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! Do not cancel this show!!!!!!!!
I love this show. I think the reason it’s not doing well in the ratings is because it’s not on a good night. The acting is very good, the plot lines are interesting and it’s a different angel on all the other legal shows out there. If this show were moved to another night, I’m sure the numbers would go up.