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.
great show really enjoyed it…bad time slot though…so many of my friends loved it as well, but it seemed that we all would miss it…bring it back and put it in a different time slot..
thanx
In the name of the people in Israel, we ask you to please renew the show for a second season.
It’s absolutely great! Funny, smart, lovable and exciting!
The show is very much loved in Israel, and I believe that in many places around the globe people would agree.
We’re looking forward to seeing more of it next season.
Thank you.
Please don’t cancel. I thought it was a great show.
I really loved season 1… Unfortunately i dont have cbs as i live in egypt but it was one of the series that i like and i am a series freak. my library has over 90 full series and sit coms; the defenders is one of my fav…
Please don’t Cancel
Please dont cancel the show bring it back I love this show everytime you just get into a show you guy change the day or time and then cancel it what if you guys had cancelled dallas or knots landing after first season both of those shows were slow to start and look what happened give it another shot
DO NOT cancel this show!!!! This is a funny show and needs to stay on the air.
Defenders was a great show. Well acted and great stories. How can you take such good shows off and leave on the junk like 2 1/2 men, good wife and other garbage shows?
I didn’t watch the show when it was on the CBS Network. I onlyu recently watched all 18 eposods thru NetFlex. What a GREAT show. How did I not “discover” this gem when it first appaired on prime time TV? Great production! Great plots! Even beter sup-plots! And James Belujshi and Jerry O’connell and the reat of the cast arE perfect! Perfect! Perfect! Not to mention the really fun, super guest stars. So, what happen. Being a former Televion Promotion Manager I can tell you…… It wasn’t promoted properly, it wasn’t promoted enought and it wasn’t promoted to the right… Read more »
I would certainly hope that this show will come back not only for season two, but for many, many more. I was pleasantly proved wrong when I initially saw the commercials, etc, and then watching the show. I feel that Jim and Jerry were meant for these roles. It all FITS, all of it. The cars they drive, the hobbies they have, it all meshes together and forms an incredible amount of genious! I realize that you have to have viewers to have a TV show, but perhaps someone in marketing and advertising needs a fresh new idea to promote,… Read more »
the show should be brought back It is great and the characters are wonderful
I love Jim and always have, they are great together on the show
We love this show. All characters are very likeable. We’ve been looking for it to start up again. Good plots/stories. Please bring it back. Perhaps advertise more – more trailers.
Do not cancel the show. It’s one of the best shows I’ve seen in a long time. I love how Jim and Jerry work together on the show. It’s hilarious. I believe they should cancel other shows like south park and other crap that they put on tv, but they shoudl definitely bring back The Defenders.
Do not cancell. The cast was great and loved their chemistry and Jim is a hoot. Jerry and Jim were great together and made it so much fun to watch. Do not let their talents go to waste. KEEP IT ON THE AIR SOMEWHERE…Thanks.
Please do not cancell it. It was a great show .. LOved it..
love the show … l;ease bring it back..it has every thing given a chance to be better and better