Pete Kaczmarek and Nick Morelli consistently get themselves and their clients out of some pretty big jams. Unfortunately, there’s one that they can’t escape. Their TV series, The Defenders, has been cancelled by CBS after one season.
The Defenders follows a pair of Las Vegas lawyers who will do just about anything for their Sin City clients. They often take on cases no one else will touch and try to keep their sanity while doing it. The TV show stars Jerry O’Connell, Jim Belushi, Jurnee Smollett, Tanya Fischer, and Gillian Vigman.
The TV series got off to a decent start with a 2.9 rating in the all-important 18-49 demographic and 12.17 million viewers. In weeks two and three, those numbers started to tumble however with the demo falling 14% and then another 12% in weeks two and three. Airing on Wednesday nights, the ratings kept falling and hit a low of a 1.5 in the demo and 6.8 million.
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Because The Defenders was already registering poor numbers, CBS decided to try it on Friday nights, an evening with fewer viewers. If most fans followed and the show could sustain the Wednesday numbers, CBS would likely have been satisfied.
That didn’t happen and the remaining six installments fell even lower, hitting a 1.1 in the demo. That was a much worse performance than the timeslot’s previous occupant, already-cancelled Medium.
While The Defenders was supposedly still in contention for a second season until recently, most knew it was a long shot at best.
Word is that CBS has now cancelled The Defenders. All 18 produced episodes have aired. The series finale ran on March 11th.
What do you think? Are you sorry that there won’t be a second season for The Defenders?
Wondering where the rest of your shows stand? Check our CBS cancel/renew page.
Image courtesy CBS.
Just found this show on netflix im upset its over already… If they woulld market this show with belushi better…..i think it would have done good
Love this show! Bring it back!!
Really disappointed this show is not coming back. It was a nice change from all the gory vampire and other drama shows out there. The characters were fun and enjoyable to watch!!!!!
Awwww…there was such great chemistry on this show. Dang, it’s a big disappointment to find out it’s not coming back 🙁
I am really disappointed that The Defenders canceled, I really enjoyed this show. I actually used to look forward to watching it every week.
watched all season 1 on netflik and i wish that i had another season to watch
My girlfriend and I loved “The Defenders”! We watched loyally every week! VERY disapointed it isnt coming back.
I am so tired of investing my time into a great show, only to have it cancelled by the network! This was one of the few shows my husband and I would sit and watch together. I agree with whomever asked about why networks can’t stand behind their writers! And how the fake “reality” shows are still on is a complete and utter mystery. I’m ready to give up on Primetime! 🙁
Really enjoyed this show and wish a second season was in store. What happened to networks getting behind shows that get off to a slow start but have support due to a belief in the writing, acting and so on? This folding mentality would have doomed great shows like Seinfeld (which also faired poorly in its first season) that later picked up steam, eventually becoming big hits.
The Defenders were on-screen winners, the viewers like me, losers. Thanks for nothing CBS.
this show is great and should not be cancelled, it should be given a second chance
My wife just sent this to me. We had wondered when it would be showing back up. We loved the show, althought I admit we would DVR it. I wonder if they take that into account for ratings. Bummer.
Very,very,disappointed to hear The Defenders was cancelled.We really enjoyed watching it and I kept checking the tv guide to see when the new season was starting so I decided to check on my computer only to find out it’s not coming back.Another good show gone.All they want us watching are reality shows!!!
My husband and I echo many of these comments. We are very disappointed that CBS cut this show. We really, really enjoyed it and looked forward to Season Two. Another good one bites the dust….prematurely.
I was very disappointed to find out this show was cancelled. The Defenders ROCK!
Just started watching via Netflix. Awesome show with great writing (drama & humor). How about another network picking it up…