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 it soooo much. It is a drama show that keeps me on the edge of my chair and u never know how its gonna turn up. Please dont cancel!
We were away and could hargly wait for the shows return, only to find out it was cancelled. I feel a mistake has been made as we enjoyed the show and waited for the new seaason. PLEASE BRING IT BACK. They made a great team,
I’m a french fan of “the defenders” and I’m watching this show on “Paris Premiere” french channel! I love this show and I hope that there Will be a second season! Please CBS!!!!!!!!!!
This show is brilliant! It’s a comedy and its deep. It’s needed
I cannot believe you would cancel The Defenders. Of course, I should believe it, as you seem to cancel all the good and decent shows on tv and resort to all the stupid reality tv shows or some other garage such as the office and others in the same catagory.
Moving the show to Fridays was a bad move.
I love love love the Defenders, BUT if CBS DOES cancel it, Franklin & Bash on TNT is pretty darn good, too. The 2 shows are pretty similar, so at least I have something to fall back on. When are these networks gonna realize that if you stick a really good show with a sucky time slot, the really good show is NOT gonna do well? Makes perfect sense to me! Oh, well. At least CBS still has Blue Bloods and Chuck. Oh, wait. They’re probably gonna screw up & cancel Chuck, too. And I’m watching CBS WHY???
I hope that CBS reconsiders cancelling this show.My fiance’ and I were always looking forward to catching it . She was not a fan of Beluschi at first but after seeing him and O’Connell together and how accent each others character,the show definately became a favorite of ours we did not miss an episode.
The Defenders is one of the best shows on CBS Please do not cancel it. I look forward to the Defenders and Blue Bloods
It’s a real shame this one’s been cancelled. I guess we’ll have a cheap reality dating show or a cooking programme instead.
Love this show! It’s one of my new favourites. Great actors(love Jim Belushi and Jerry O’Connell) Please don’t cancell it……….
This is an amazing show!!! I cannot believe that CBS is thinking of cancelling it. I do hope that they rethink this decision and give it another chance. The character’s are outstandingly funny and my husband and I looked forward the watching this show together every week… Try another season CBS!!!
The Defenders is one of the few shows that my husband and I can enjoy together. It has witty good looking people, both male and female, plus interesting law cases and not too violent crime. My husbaand loves action series and I hate the blood and guts parts, so the Defenders has the right amount to please both of us. This show may be SAVING my marriage. It’s better than Dr. Phil ! please OH pLEase don’t cancel this show !
AMAZING SHOW….. great lines…excellent actors……and a great watch on a Friday night On FX….Shame to see it go….I hope cbs have a re-think and air the show for season 2…..
I am with you…….this is one of the best shows out there. I hope the CBS big wigs re-think the schedule …..forget those reallity shows…….Keep this witty interesting comedy/crime series on schedule.
The Defenders was an entertaining and fun show. It’s ashamed that it has not been renewed. The network should renew for another season and put the show in a good time spot.
Please don’t cancel this show! It was wonderful!