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.
Great show! Dont cancel it!
LOVE THE DEFENDERS!!!!! I hope it doesn’t get cancelled. My husband and I look forward to watching it every week.
Me, too. This show was awesome. I like Jim Belushi and Jerry O’Connell and this show used their talents to the max. It’s great having a law series that’s part drama and part comedy. Like everyone else, reality shows suck. Why can’t networks give new shows more than one season to catch on? The only reason Blue Bloods took over the time slot was because of Tom Selleck. Although I watch Blue Bloods, given a choice I would rather have The Defenders.
I truly like this show. It’s entertaining, and fun to watch. Friday night isn’t a good night for a good show! Wednesday nights would be better.
I really enjoyed the reparte’ between the 2 guys and the stories were all very original-KEEP THIS SHOW and put it on a night where it will have a chance…remember Hill St Blues…that was cancelled in its first year as well…think about it!
THE DEFENDERS IS A GOOD SHOW,WHAT IS CBS THINKING? MOVE BLUEBLOODS TO FRIDAY TO ITS A GREAT SHOW AND KEEP TWO AND A HALF MEN ITS SUCKS!! KEEP THE DFEFENDERS AND CANCLE TWO AND A HALF MEN……
I love this show, its one of only 3 shows that I really look forward to seeing every week. It’s smart and funny and actors don’t get any better than this cast. It will be a shame if it’s cancelled.
I have been looking for this program. I wish I had found it sooner since I really like it. It should be given another chance next season in a different time slot. Here is a wish for ” The Defenders”, to continue next season. M. K. P.
Well of course it should be returned! It’s very entertaining. The entire crew are very talented, and gives us as an audience something to look forward to. It’s not your typical lawyer type of a show because it adds a hint of humor at the same time.
I love the show…you need to be a seriously invested watcher to follow the change to friday. I am with all the rest, the reality shows are not my cup of tea. Why not leave it alone for another season and see how it does then. The dynamics of the two leads perfect.
I really liked the show as well. I am sick of the reality junk they have on tv now. I hope they bring back THE DEFENDERS for a second season.
Entertaining and unique show with good actors and an interesting dynamic between the two leads. I love the audio visual logo at the beginning and the end: walking bass jazz transitioning into funk while the two main characters either adjust their tie or their cufflink.
I really enjoyed this show. The problem is that CBS messed with the time slot and really never gave the show a chance. I think reality shows are horrible, and every time I begin to get invested in a series, it gets cancelled. My wife and I are to the point we are going to watch the few (very few!) shows we are invested in, and not begin to watch ANY new series! Let the networks rot.
Agree with Mike. Especially with cable channels putting out more quality work than the networks. This years NEW cable series look to be just as great as the others they have been producing (Camelot, The Killing, The Kennedy’s, etc.). Wish networks would give up the litany of crappy reality shows and get back to their roots. What happened to shows that were daring and well written? Remember the uproar when MASH and Happy Days were created? Remember the fresh dialog of West Wing? How about comedy/dramas that were so funny you had to Be careful not to choke on your… Read more »
Very entertaining show. It is only show on TV I look forward to watching. Reality shows suck!!!
This is a great show, figures they’d cancel it and keep all the reality junk on tv !!