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.
Please do NOT cancel this show. It is one of the few that BOTH my husband and I both enjoy!!!
what a great show. How about Saturday night?
This is a great show. Do not cancel it.
NO NO NO!!! I LOVE THIS SHOW! THERE JUST ISN”T MUCH TO WATCH THAT IS FUNNY SERIOUS ENTERTAINING AND ALWAYS HAS A GOOD STORY> NO NO NO
Hey, don’t cancel this. It is one of the few good shows on. Tried of reality show after reality show—just rehearsed antic by some annoying people. Same goes for CSI shows–how many can you have and each is just the same as the other only in a different city. Makes sense to revamp and bring back to tv some of the old great ones. Like The Defenders and Hawaii 50.
It’s my favorite show! Don’t even think of canceling. I didn’t miss a single episode.
Definitely a great show. It is different from a lot of the police procedurals out there and we need something different. Belushi and O’Connell are truly funny men and they make this show amazing. Please don’t cancel it.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Defenders! OhPlease keep this show.
All the good ones are cancelling-Undercovers, The Gates
& 2 others I enjoyed.
Not sure why the ratings dropped. People just get busy around the holidays & football is ending. Maybe have this one start in late August just before the fall season starts up-gear up for fall starting with the Defenders.
This is a great with all the stupid shows on tv why would you cancel a great one Belushi is great me and my husband love it.
No!! Please, please don’t cancel it. It is the best show on. My husband and I love it. Love it. Keep it!!!!!
I love The Defenders. I watched it every week it was on. The actors compliment each other. Bulushi is GREAT as a lawyer. This show reminds me of a modern day Perry Mason. Please put it back on, My whole family misses it.
Please don’t cancel this show! We love it and look forward to it every weekend! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE DON’T CANCEL.
Please don’t cancel the Defenders my husband and l loved this sereies. It’s one of our favorites. Bring it back!
My husband and I really like this show and hope cbs gives it time for others to fall for it!
NO! Don’t even think about cancelling this show! It is a wonderful show, with true to life
characters and heart warming plots. Please bring it back for a second season, maybe in
an earlier time-slot. All our family and friends watch this show.