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.
Me and my family really miss The Defenders!!! Please bring it back. It’s perfect for us adults who like good clean plots and humorous TV! Please bring it back!!!!
My Mother and I faithfully watched THE DEFENDERS; looking forward to seeing it every week. We were so sorry to see it disppear!!! The show cast was meant to be together, keeping us interetained in a way only that combination could do. My hat is off to the writers as well!!! The balance of realism mixed with humor (and no-doubt some ad-libing too) was dynamite to these teo faithful followers!!! We tried watching the new “copy-cat” show that’s similar, but no comparrison!!! I personally know several other people who miss seeing THE DEFENDERS as well. Please bring it back!!! P.S.… Read more »
Please do not cancel the Defenders It is one of the best shows. My whole family and friends enjoy this show.
This was a great show!!! Please don’t cancel.
great show please keep it coming
are you people mad? keep the show going. .. but at a good time slot. 9.30pm is too late. We and many many other friends of ours loved it from the first show. put it back on. who can we get to defend them?
What are these people thinking, maybe instead of taking off the defenders which my family likes to watch, perhaps put it on later so we have time to get to watch it more, I don’t know about other people but I am so sick and tired of stupid reality shows, I watch tv for entertainment, not for weight losers or song and dance, some more shows like defenders that have some imagination would be nice,. are these network people for real, not everyone has satellite or cable, nor do they want it!!!
OMG!!!! What the Heck ru thinking? WE & by WE I mean my entire Family + @Least half a Dozen of my Friends would All get together &Watch the Show! I cant really explain the “Ratings” thing….Maybe there just ALOT of ppl who have NO TASTE, Maybe its the Time slot &that it inflicts with another good show I really couldnt say but it would be a HUGE MISTAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can you @Least give it another Season? it would make me VERY VERY HAPPY &Apparently alot of these other ppl Postingthere Votes 2Keep it Going!!!!
dont cancel it…we all LOVE it
My husband and I both love the show. If it doesn’t fly on Fridays put it back on Wednesdays!
This show is awesome! There is no need to cancel it. It nice to have shows that are other than reality tv. Jerry O’Connell and Jim Belushi was an awesome duo, and was funny to watch them play off one another. Me and my guy watch this show all the time!! PLEASE DON’T CANCEL THE SHOW!!!
Dont cancel this show
Please Don’t Cancel! the whole family love the show! the personalities of the whole crew together is awesome there is so much more of the show we want to see.
my husband and I love this show….Why do you always target the younger demographics….Most young kids only want the reality shows, while the 50 plus like shows like the defenders….Seems every time we start really liking a show they take it off the air and put some stupid reality crap on….The tv execs need to start to realize that most young people don’t stay home at night to watch tv….It’s about time the execs target the 40-65 age group….we’re the ones who like to sit down in the evening after a hard days work and watch something good ( like… Read more »
Great comment!!! Ditto! Ditto! Ditto!
I totally agree with all you said.
Dont Cancel It!! Its a really good show, one of the best!