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 but Friday is where shows go 2 die. It was to smart of a show for the simple folks in the Mtv generation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Loved the show! Stop moving shows where we can’t find them!
I loved the show and am hoping it will return. I thought the characters were enjoyable to watch. There is so little on tv anymore. I hate to see the good ones get cancelled. I do not enjoy any of the reality show at all.
Love this show and hope to see it next season. It is believable with the humor and antics of the actors. I can not believe it has been canceled.
Glenda and Hale
My husband and I loved this show and have been very disappointed that it is no longer available. Great stories with humor and realistic antics. We are VERY hopeful to having it return next season.
Really love this show. Friday nights was not a great night for the show. PLEASE DO NOT CANCEL!
When will networks learn to give these shows a chance. My family loves this show, as do many of the people I know. Moving time slots often slows down viewership because people need time to readjust. I really hope this show is given the opportunity to meet it’s potential.
Love this show, really hope they renew it. If they need to make room for it, cancel Mike and Molly and Sleep my Dad Says….those are terrible, can’t stand their commercials. The Defenders us witty, fast, funny, and I love hoe they incorporate the shots and locations in Vegas. Great great show.
We love this show !!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE DONT CANCEL !!!!!!!!!!!!
THIS SHOW IS AMAZING !!!!!!!!
never miss it. one of the best new shows to come along in a long time. give it a chance in the right time slot
This show is absolutely amazing and we love it!!! We want a second season to air!!! Please continue this show 🙂
Absolutely love this show! Friday nights didn’t help them one bit! Need an earlier time slot on a night that doesn’t have great shows on. I will definitely keep watching if there is a second season!!!!
My husband and I watched this every week and we really really like it! We also hated it was moved to Friday nights and we couldn’t find it for awhile!! Eeks! The writing and acting are very good, it wasn’t as gory or violent as too many other shows and the interaction between characters was interesting. We also enjoy the humor and human foibles of the characters! Please keep this on!!
Good show with great storyline and good actors. Putting on friday did them in. I think if you main stream it on a different night and make it earlier like 7 or 8 on tuesday or wednesday it would do better. those nights are bad. Monday and thursdays are the good night with the best shows.
My wife an I love this show. Great cast, scenes in Vegas always fun to see. Great story lines. Hope this doesn’t get cancelled.