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 guess I am in the minority thus far but after the first couple of episodes, I got very bored very quickly with the show. I wouldn’t miss it if it were canceled.
I think that cancelling this show without giving it a second season would be a horrible mistake. Switching a series back and forth to different time slots, so that no one knew where it was, contributed to the lower ratings toward the end of the first season. I agree with giving it a decent time slot, and not running it against an equally popular series, would help. Come on CBS, do the right thing and make us, the viewers, happy.
Yes…Keep it on another season. Great story lines. Give it time. Rome was not built in a day. This show has tons of potential!
I love the Defenders please bring it back and start it at a earlier time and on sunday nights when there is nothing else on and people are wanting to relax and watch tv.
Great show and good cast chemistry. do not cancel.
PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THE DEFENDERS OFF THE AIR IT IS TRULLY ONE OF MY FAVORITE SHOWS
hi,a lot of shows start out slowly.i enjoyed the show very much,so i hope it stays on maybe in a better time slot. thanks
The Defenders was one of the best new shows of last season. It was a show that respected people on all levels and didn’t have to work hatred and vulgar language into the plot. Keep in in one time slot and promote.
I also love the show .maybe they could promote it better. Iwill be sad if it is canceled.
I also love the Defenders. The cast members were great together.
The Defenders is one of only a few good shows on tv . It deserves a second chance and a decent time slot.
i love the defenders please renew
i love the defenders and think that it shouldn’t be cancelled :/ please renew for season 2 🙂 xx
I love the show, it would be very disappointing if it were canceled. One of my coworkers and I always talk about what happens on the show the next day on our lunch break. It is really a great show, I think CBS should take a second look.
I LOVE THE DEFENDERS!!! IT’S A TERRIFIC SHOW! PLEASE, KEEP IT ON THE AIR.
I THINK NEXT SEASON IT WILL TAKE OFF LIKE NOBODY’S BUSINESS!!
Ann Marie Pace’
TRULY A GREAT SHOW!
I love the show and the relationship between the two main characters. I will be truely disappointed if the show is cancelled.