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.
PLEASE BRING THE DEFENDERS BACK!!!!! I think the show was really good…maybe it just needs to find another day and time spot… I love the show I really hope it comes back or if CBS is stupid cable will be it up.
From what I can see of the comments it seems pretty unanimous. People like the show and agree that fridays were horrid days to change it to. I recently watched it on netflix and I have to say, even though it was only 18 episodes I got sucked right into it. The humor is great, they have famous people that just about everyone knows and hey, it’s centered in Sin City itself. Kind of hard to run out of ideas. Between gamblers, call girls, mobs and casino tycoons what is there not to love? I can understand though. It’s very… Read more »
This was one of our favorites! CBS is crazy if they don’t bring it back. It is far beter than a lot of other shows that we refuse to watch any longer.
This show has great and character and comedy. I hope they give it another chance.I think they didn’t get a lot of people watching because there was not enough advertising I just happen to turn the channel and found it.Please continue it!!!
The Defenders was a great show, my husband and I loved it. Put it back on on Tuesday nights, there is never anything good to watch on this day. Friday nights are not good TV nights, no wonder they lost their audience. Even Saturday would be better than Friday.
I love this show. I keep watching it on Netflix but I would really want for CBS to bring it back. I don’t undeerstand how so many good, smart, fun shows are cancelled and stupid once, with poor acting keep going on.
Please bring back the show. We all love it.
My husband and I love the Defenders and would like it to come back. Take off some of these reality shows and put this one back on.
I would love to see the Defenders back. It was one of the better shows on tv. I can’t believe people would rather watch some of the garbage that is taking the air time. Too many reality shows that are really stupid and way too many blood and guts. Bring back the Defenders!!!!!
love the show, caught it on net flix and want to continue seeing it on air! Both funny and entertaining….. Love seeing Jim and Jerry together, great chemistry.
I loved this show – the acting is excellent, Please, please, continue this show.
Everyone I know watched the Defenders. Even my mother liked the show. they must have a great rating system. Some of the junk they leave on is amazing. I wish a cable station would pick it up. TNT, TBS or some station like that.
plz bring the show back, it was just wonderful, come on, we all here in cleve. loved it.
I loved that show. PLEASE BRING IT BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CBS what are you doing?! Why hasn’t the Defenders been picked back up? Everyone I know was excited for it to air again and its not. What’s going on? It was an exciting drama mixed with comedy and the chemistry among the cast was awesome! PLEASE get it back on tv (better late then never!)
I would really like to see this show come back. I got really into it. It’s funny and serious.