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 enjoyed it. The actors worked well together. I looked forward to it. It was hard to track when it was on one week, off the next, then moved. I tried to keep tuned in, but had trouble finding when it was going to be on!
I think the show is great.. I love the characters and think it would be a shame to cancel the show so quickly! Better than half of the other shows out there!!!I say try one more season and see what happens!!!
Great show. Please don’t cancel.
My husband and I like this show a lot. There isn’t much on TV these days. Be smart. Don’t cancel it.
My wife an I were pleasently surprised at how much we liked this show. It seemed at first without having seen the first show to be a bad casting with Jim Belushi as a lawyer, but it seems to us that he has proven himself in this new role. The rest of the cast is great. We both love the show and would hate to see it cancelled. Hopefully they will give it another chance with a known good lead in before it. The Friday slot is a horrible place. Perhaps if the network doesn’t want to continue with this… Read more »
There is very little on network television that I will make a point to watch. I made a point to watch this show. I think y’all would be crazy to cancel it.
Please do not cancel. This is my favorite show. Get rid of the CIS shows! I love Jim and Jerry. Mary
The Defenders is funny, witty, enjoyable. I never missed a single episode. Please don’t cancel it.
Thanks
I loved this show. The chemistry between Jim Belushi and Jerry O’Connell was great. I think they need a better timeslot. Fridays was not good because many people go out on Fridays. Give it another shot!!
Your stupid if you cancel defenders. You keep that stupid csi show n make that new criminal minds suspect with the guy from phone booth lol which sorry but blah neither one compare to the entertainment I get from good old belushi. Give the show a chance blue bloods the original criminal minds n defenders r top 3 in my book. GO BELUSHI if cbs cancels you I wouldn’t do a darn thing with the program anymore.
Enjoyable viewing with wife!
The defenders is a good series. Do not cancel it.
I LOVE this show and hope it doesn’t get cancelled. I think Fridays are not a good night for shows, people that work all week go out to dinner or movie. Please give this show another chance and if on a different night might do better.
Great show lots of fun, good entertainment those guys really work well together. Please don’t cancel.
I thoroughly enjoyed this show and the camaraderie of the actors. Belushi was awesome. Please don’t cancel, give it another chance.