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 love this show, please do not cancel it!!!! I watched every episode @ CBS.com at work when I got in. It is absolutely my favorite show (so witty).
I really liked the show i think they should bring it back it was my favorite show.
just cuz i did watch it when it came on dosent mean i didnt dvr it i like the show i just work nights
Give this show a chance. Put it in a better time slot. Of course moving it to Friday nights was a very BAD decision. Most people, unlike myself, are out partying on Friday nights. A great time slot would be right before CSI Miami on Sunday nights. Or put it in a time slot right after Survivor. I KNOW ev1 loves Survivor. But i also love the Defenders!!!!! Please bring it back!!!!!!!!! It is much better than Two and a Half Men, Big Bang Theory, etc. Belushi is awesome and Morelli and Kazmarik have such great charisma and are hilarious!!!!
My household feels betrayed by The Defenders cancelation.
Why not Cancel the “Programming Executive’s Paycheck” instead of one of the few Quality Shows worth watching like “The Defender.” Not a wise decision regardless of some apparently faulty ratings reading.
This particular comedy/drama offered viewers REAL entertainment…A rare mix of refreshingly natural toned Comedy, moralistic characters with an immoralistic taunt and a pleasant introduction to fighting & winning for the RIGHT side for a change. Your loss CBS as MY household grows more inclined to entrust their viewing enjoyment where they may be LESS likely to be betrayed.
Everything fails on Friday nights. It needs to be brought back but not against top shows on the other stations. Everyone I talked to loved the show, so who are they chosing for the critics??
My family loved the Defenders – we are hoping it will come back. We’re big fans of CBS shows and hope that the network stands behind what is a good show that if given time – an a consistent time slot – an excellent show. Please bring it back next season.
A great show, just love the interation between O’Connell and Belushi. All above are right, how can they build and audience without a consistant time slot. Not sure what credentials you need to be an programing executive at NBC, but it seems they need to do some house cleaning. Please bring it back for season two and more…
Best Show!!! Please renew. Our family came together to watch this. Cast was excellent. Ratings must be wrong somehow.
DO NOT CANCEL THIS SHOW. THIS IS TRULY ONE OF THE BETTER SHOWS ON TV. TAKE IN CONSIDERATION THAT MAJORITY OF THE AUDEINCE TVO THE SHOW, THEREFORE THE NEILSON RATING IS NOT ACCURATE.
We really enjoyed The Defenders – when we could not watch it we recorded it. One of the better shows on TV – hope they do not cancel it!
I really enjoyed THE DEFENDERS. You people kept on hiding it all over the place and didn’t give a chance to build the viewership. Try only 1 spot and try yo promote it for a change. And STOP pre-emptying it for something else.
I love the show and look forward to it every week. So many shows are being cancelled this year it is getting harder to find good shows to watch. I hope they renew “The Defenders”.
I loved the show.Please help bring the show back.I think the reason it was taken off was because it was a clean family show. There just wasn’t enough filth in it.
I agree with Jane. The Defenders was far away my favorite show, but it was on inconsistently. I always looked for it, but not everybody would do that. I would make it my number one show weekly if they brought it back. If a show I like is not on, I don’t look for an alternative show. I do something else.
Why cancel? They did not show it enough for anyone to start watching it! I for one loved the show, I would look every week wondering where in the heck did it go? Looked forward to watching it but it was never on! Bring it back on and show it every week! How is that for an idea!