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.
It is sad that this show got canceled. I thought it was well done. The characters were believable and I really liked the interactions.
When other super stupid shows get renewed all the time it is additionally sad when a good show gets canceled.
To bad CBS didn’t see that.
I don’t think that you should cancel the show. It is funny, but serious and I love it!
look at today’s programs and see the mentality of America. This show was as sharp as Boston Legal and drew a particular audience. Bring it back!
Stop moving the show, put it on at a decent time and night. These guys are quirky
and they are really good together. The episodes were all different, not the same
crap every week like lots of the shows now. I can’t say it’s better than the reality
shows tho, cause I HAVE NEVER WATCHED A REALITY SHOW!!!! (and never
will).
Keep Defenders – very entertaining!!!!
We want the Defenders back. Cancel the idiotic realities programs. Quit moving the Defenders around to different time slots, so people can count on it being in a specific place and time….. It was the best program on tv.
I loved the show please don’t canceL
please bring the Defenders back, =great acting great writing! We need more shows like this!
This is an excellent and well written show. I hope it is not canceled. It would a shame like the cancellation of other one season wonders like My So Called Life. I wish I new of this shows existence prior to it being on Netflix instant watch, I would have been glued to the t.v. for the entire season. However, now that I’m aware of it, I have spent the past week glued to my computer.
This show was great!!! Unfortunately it got bumped to a Friday night. Fridays are always bad for a show because no show can get a good ratings on a Friday. CBS is just to cheap to keep a show with moderate ratings (that would develop a strong following if given the chance) on the air. Please bring it back the show was great and one of the best shows I have seen in years!!!!
I love The Defenders and if I couldn’t watch it I always DVRed it. The actors had great chemistry. Please bring the show back!
PLEASE BRING THEM BACK …….. I DO NOT SEE HOW THEY GOT LOW RATINGS….. IT IS SUCH A GREAT SHOW…….. GOOD ACTORS FOR THE PARTS ALSO………
PLEASE DON’T CANCEL……………………………….
As a very busy realtor at the age of 46,…I don’t have alot of time to waste.
When I sit down to watch a show,…it needs to be good and worth my time.
It is even harder to find one that I enjoy with my woman.
The Defenders is one of the best shows to hit the air waves in quite awhile…
Naturally …they cancel it……..That is always the way.
At least they didn’t leave us with a cliff hanger episode…..!
Please don’t cancel it. It’s waay better that all the other smut reality shows out there. The show actually had numerous pearls of wisdom to from which to glean!
its the best show that i have watched in ages
I AGREE!
Please don’t cancel the series, My husband and I really enjoyed watching the show. It is alot better than alot of the other shows on tv. We have been waiting and looking for when the series will be returning. I am really bummed out that ya’ll are thinking about cancelling it. PLEASE DON’T!!!!!
Sincerely,
a 1 Fan!