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.
NOOOOO don’t cancel it that would break my heart it is now my favorite show I even likenit better than CSI, House, Criminal Minds and I love those to. I think Tuesday night would be a good night as there are not really that many shows I like on tuesday night. The characters are fantastic and the writing is great keeps me interested. Please please don’t cancel it. It’s one of the best shows I have seen. My friends and family all love it also. Keep it going people just need to learn about it and it has potential to… Read more »
My family and I were so bummed when we found out it wasn’t airing..This was actually one show that we would look forward to watch during the week..This show finally brought a good clean laughter without violence or science fiction crap, so please give it another chance..if it was doing so good why would they change the days…it will be upsetting if this show goes…
Taking this show off the air would be a crime!! Clean, refreshing, just plain fun.
What more can you want? Multi=dimensional, diveloped, diverse characters and situations…mix of personalities…superb, tight writing..mix of humor and pathos and drama…. good setting with many possibilities…gradual development of characters….varied age leading men…plots/characters not obvious or routine at first…other CBS judgments are sound…. BRING IT BACK….yes, viewers can think, feel And like action at the same time.
Why is it they take off the good shows like this and leave all these d%^& reality shows on this is a great show change it to Monday nights or back to Wednesdays any day but Friday
Love the show. It is one of my must watch shows.
Very good show. Very good cast and interesting plots. Should be renewed.
I loved The Defenders Show, it was great. I think you should air it on Tuesday’s definately not Friday (so as to get more viewers) Tuesday has very “few” good shows on TV. I would be very dissappointed if you cancelled that show.
No it shouldn’t be cancelled. I love Jim Beluchi and the chemistry between the 2 partners was a hoot. It was refreshing show. And, it was great not to have to view a show with a lot of smut. Change the night… give it a chance.
Please keep this show. We have a hard time watching it on Friday nights, so we PVR it. It is one of our favorite shows on tv. We were wondering why we can’t find it, so I searched it and found this out. We would be really disappointed if this show were to be cancelled.
We enjoyed it immensely with Belushi as the flamboyant, loud but capable Lawyer. It’s a lot better than reality or overpowering dancing with the stars or great race that are not realistic at all.
It was very entertaining. A nine pm slot would be better suited.
Keep the show. This has the potential to be another Rockford Files or Magnum PI, with a pair goofy but sincere guys instead of just one. Some of this stuff really happens in the court room, and showing some of this legal humor makes a nice change to watch.
Just decide where you want it and keep it there, maybe mondays before 50?
Please DO NOT take off ‘The Defenders’. That’s the one DVR program I watch right away. Love Jim Belushi and Jerry O Connel. The show is funny and serious. I do like ‘Blue Bloods…but I am behind in my DVR tapings. Please give ‘The Defenders’ a second chance. It is sure a lot better than so many of the reality shows ore some of the dumb sitcoms!
This is a great, clean, light hearted show and I would really be disappointed if it was cancelled. The time slots in which it has aired made it difficult for me to watch, but I watch each episode multiple times on FIOS. Casting is great across the board and the guest stars have been top notch. So much potential with Dan Akroyd – give Carol another season to make it take off. Thanks.
The chemistry between the actors is good I think if they change the night to Monday or Thursday it may do better?? who knows any more?? its a different defender show I don’t think” Harry;s law” is that good & yet people they say people like that show but its not that good. its dry & the actors are not as connected so I don’t get it who does these servays anyway& where what states do they do the servays in any way? what age group are the people in?? because reality shows most of them are ridiculous fighting using… Read more »