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.
My husband and I love this show!! It is very clever and I look forward to watching it every week. CBS should not cancel it!
This show is absolutely hilarious!!! There is great chemistry between the cast and the storylines are never dull!. It would be a complete shame if CBS cancelled it. It’s a given that ratings drop when a show gets moved to Friday nights. It seems to me that CBS didn’t really want to give The Defenders a chance. RENEW THE DEFENDERS!!!!!!!!
I enjoy the Defenders very much. Jim and Jerry play off each other so well and make this much different than a typical lawyer/trial show. I hope CBS will stick with them and renew for next season. I look forward to watching each week and think that Jim Belushi has never been better!
I THINK THE DEFENDERS IS ONE OF THE BEST SHOWS ON TV….COME ON PEOPLE, WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?
I have watched the show since the first episode .
I think programing has been the issue !
Find the right night and time slot before taking
It off the air .
The cast and story lines are great and witty !
I look forward to every episode and there has
Not been a bad one to date
Please give it a proper chance
Too many people addicted to the trash reality
Shows … What’s that say about the
General public ???
The Defenders is an AWESOME show! It would be a crime it were cancelled.
The Defenders is simply terrific. Jim and Jerry are fabulous together. The show is upbeat and the stories are entertaining. I’ve no clue why the ratings dropped (assuming that that information is correct). It would be a travesty if the show is canceled.
The Defenders is truly a great show, and it has a great cast. The Las Vegas concept adds a great eliment. DO NOT CANCEL THIS SHOW!!
Please give the defenders a second season. It is one of our favorite shows. Move it back to a good night and watch the ratings go threw the roof.
I don’t like either one of the actors on the show.If it’s cancelled that will be fine with me.
Lloyd:
It’s people like you that need to watch a show like the Defenders and take it for what it’s worth. I will bet you watch Reality and not shows like the Defenders! Notice you were the only one with negative thoughts, everyone else loves the show so what does that tell you…..HUH?
I AM UPSET THAT YOU ARE CANCELING THIS SHOW. I CONSIDER THIS SHOW IN THE TOP 10 OF ALL CHANNELS. YOU KEEP THE OTHER GARBAGE ON AND TAKE AN ENTERTAINING SHOW WITH EXCELLENT ACTORS OFF. TRUE, THERE ARE NO NAKED PEOPLE AND SEX ACTS IN THE DEFENDERS BUT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND SHOWS THAT CONTAIN THE ABOVE ARE THE RUIN OF THIS WORLD. I NEVER MISSED AN EPISODE! SHAME ON YOU FOLKS – FIND SOMEONE WITH QUALITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE A SHOW OF QUALITY!!
Mr. Williams, we both said it! KEEP THIS ENTERTAINING SHOW!
I LOVE THE SHOW SO MUCH. VERY DIFFERENT FROM ALL THE OTHER SHOWS.
THIS ONE HAS THE EDGE. I CANCEL WHAT I’M DOING ON FRIDAY NIGHTS TO WATCH JIM AND JERRY. THEY ARE PERFECT. GREAT CHEMISTRY.
HOPE IT IS RENEWED
We look forward to The Defenders… Please find another time slot and advertise it
more IF it’s not holding its own on its regular night. KEEP THE DEFENDERS!!!
Great show..Belushi is GREAT…would be a shame to cancel it…
It would be nice if you left something that was liked on the air. I look forward to fridays for The Defenders and Blueblood. Along with the late late show, thats about the best I can think of the CBS has.. Other shows I watch are The Closer, Chicago Code, Southland, Justified, Modern Family, The Middle, Kitchen Nightmares, Hells Kitchen if that tells you anything about your programing..