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.
It was one show that our family could watch together. Who do they check for ratings? Ask us! We really enjoyed this show and set it to record every week. We will be very sad if they cancel it. Everything on TV is reality shows now. We want FICTION once in a while!
My husband and I loved this show! We never missed it! Please bring it back!
You took the best show off( medium),
And now my other great show is in jeopardy too
What is wrong with you people. The defenders,
With Jerry oconnel. And Jim belushi is
So refreshing and funny too??
Please don’t take it off. Thanks, irene
We loved the Defenders. Finally something different and fun…bring it back
This show is fantastic, very entertaining PLEASE BRING IT BACK NEXT SEASON AND DON’T CANCEL PLEASE.!!!! THANK YOU
We think this is one the best shows on tv today. We think the duo Jim and Jerry are the beat pair on tv. We hope you will bring it back. To us it was one the best programs on television. We never missed an episode,even when it was being moved around. PLEASE DON’T CANCEL THE DEFENDERS, GREAT TELEVISION.
TV IS GETTING CRAZY – THE DEFENDERS WAS A GREAT SHOW. I TRULY CANNOT BELIEVE IT HAS BEEN CANCELED. MAYBE ONE OF THE REASONS THE RATINGS WENT DOWN WAS BECAUSE IT WAS MOVED AROUND. WE NEVER MISSED A SHOW, EVERYONE WE KNOW THAT WATCHES THE SHOW LOVED I,T. PLEASE RECONSIDER AND BRING IT BACK. GREAT ENTERTAINMENT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU’RE NOT FAN OF REALITY SHOWS OR ALL THE VIOLENT SHOWS.
My wife and I love the show. We both watched it every evening. Please do not cancel
I hope you keep it on. Maybe change nights/time but we all thought it was a great show.
TNT is now out with a lawyer comedy series? I think that The Defenders is a much better show.
My wife and I have really enjoyed this show and were waiting for it to be back on again. Please bring it back.
Thank You
Scott Smith
Fun show bring it back
We enjoyed the show very much. No blood and guts. Great humor. Good character chemistry.
Hard for me to find show that I like. I don’t do reality and I’m sick of blood and guts from the police dramas.
I enjoyed the show very much. No blood and guts. Great humor. Good character chemistry.
Hard for me to find show that I live. I don’t do reality and I’m sick of blood and guts from the police dramas.
I loved the show hope u bring it back