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 love The Defenders and was wondering what happened to it!? PLEASE don’t cancel The Defenders!
The Defenders is a great show! But more than great someone finally put on a show with some ethics…But what would CBS Executives know about ETHICS? The moved the show all over the place never gave it a chance. The same with Blue Bloods…move them here, no over their. I bet the CBS Executives would not like their desks moved all over the building every week. If you cannot find a show, how can it get good ratings?
(Clarification) The Defenders deserves a second season. The interplay between Jim & Jerry’s characters is the best on TV. Friday, 8:00pm is a deathtrap, though. It’s datenight #1, and dinner time, idiots! Fine if you’re not dating. If you are, there goes your 18 – 30 somethings. Leaving only the 40 – beyond meaningful demographic ( I’m 62, my wife, 60 = beyond meaningful demographic, which stops at 54). It’s time the networks realized older people know more about TV than wet behind the ears programming execs. I’ve watched more TV than they are old! Anyone remember Rocky Jones, Space… Read more »
The Defenders is worthy of a second season. The interplay between Jim &Jerry’s characters is one of the best on TV. Friday at 8:00pm is a deathtraps, though. It’s datenight number one, idiots, and dinner time. If you’re not dating, fine, if you are, then there goes your 18-30 something’s right the door, literally! What’s left is your 40- beyond meaningful demographic (I’m 62 and my older people and realize we know more TV than they do wife is 60 = beyond meaningful demographic, which stops at 54). Its time the networks stopped disenfranchising us. What happens in Vegas should… Read more »
I love the show and Beulushi and O”Connel make a great team. Please do not cancel the Defenders . I was disapointed that I did not see it on this Friday and last Friday. I have to set mine shows up to tape so I can watch later.
We were really enjoying the show and are dissapointed that it’s not on any longer. It was engaging and maybe people don’t like that. Also, it was not blood and guts and maybe that’s why its ratings were dropping. Where are we headed?
Please do not cancel the defenders !!!! I love the show and I look forward to it every week!!! Do not cancel !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Defenders is a terrific show & really entertaining. Please DO NOT cancel it. It is well written & all of the actors are first-rate. Why is it when CBS has a winner they cannot recognize it? Jim Belushi is great in his role & it brings out the best in him.
It is one of the best shows this season. Why on earth would you switch it to a Friday when everyone goes out for the night? Please keep the show going. Please cancel Criminal Minds as it has become to violent during a time slot people watch at.
The Defenders is a GREAT show with a Great cast.
Do not cancell it! It’s very entertaining in an offbeat way. Quit jerking the timeslot around. Find a good slot [after Blue Bloods on NBC] and leave it alone!! There is damn few real entertaining programs now…keep this up and there will be fewer viewers…
DO NOT CANCEL this show!!!!! One of the best shows on TV. It has it all. Drama, comedy, great acting, love. Come on, do us all a favour and put it in a good time slot and keep it there!
great show, I hope it is picked up again. I really enjoyed the show ans will miss it.
Bud
The Defenders is a BRILLIANTLY written show. CBS would be wise to put it in a winning time-slot for a while to see how it does. I bet it catches on!!
The Defenders, is one of the best shows on CBS. Please do not cancell it. If anything should be cancelled it should be Criminal Minds Suspect Behavior. Forest Whiteker, is so far out of his element that it makes him look like a very bad actor. Replace CMSB with The Defenders, which is a very good show. PLEASE DO NOT CANCELL THE DEFENDERS!!!!
I love the show the Defenders. One of the better show on TV. CMSB basially sucks. Put the Defenders back in the original time slot and get rid of the replacement show which makes otherwise good actors look like untalented rookies.
You nimrods need to stop changing your shows around every damn week, then stand around and scratching your a– wondering why nobody is watching them. Leave The Defenders alone and on the air