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.
Put the defenders back on. I loved that. I love to be entertained and this show did that
Great show just never knew when it was on.. bring it back worth the veiw
Please keep this show running I loved it, even all the way from Australia!!!
Please do not cancel the Defenders LOVE the show and all the actors great fun and drama and a joy to watch . Big mistake great actors and they flow so well together
Please bring back the defenders! It was a witty and fantastic show!
Please do not cancel the Defenders. It is a great show all the actors get along great. Move the show to a better time slot, not at the same time as other popular shows. It is a funny, clean show. Keep it on, please.
Please bring back The Defenders. I really enjoyed it. I love the team and how they work together.
I loved these two guys and now there is off the wall remake on tnt copy cats no way the orignial.
Really enjoyed The Defenders! Please don’t cancel.
Please, go on with The Defenders, it ‘s one of the most interesting serials I’ve ever seen…So many stupid unnecessary serials are still at the screen and that one MUST be there too idesputibly!Thanks Jim Belushi! Love him;)
please dont take the defenders off me and my boyfriend really love tyhat show and there not to many new shows on we love
dont cancel it is an awesome show
They put the Defenders up against three other show in the same time slot. It needs to be spread out more during the week when Blue Bloods and Hawii 50 don’t compete. We loved the Defenders. Please don’t cancel put it on days that don’t have anything to watch.
Please don’t cancel The Defenders. Put it on in a non-competitive time if necessary…..my family will still watch it. When will it be back ?
This show satisfied my “Boston Legal” cravings. Keep it going. Don’t let it just Stay in Vegas, Let it out! Remember how bad CHEERS was its first season? And look what happened to that! One change. Give Belushi’s character BACK his Family. You don’t see that in todays TV. Show how difficult it is to work 197 hours a week and still find time to throw a ball with his kid. How even on the worst day, coming home to smiling faces HAPPY to see you makes your day a success.