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.
 Loading ... |
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.
I just finished watching the entire Season on Netflix and was eager to see a Second season.
I just watched all of season 1 and loved it… Now I hear there is no season 2 and it sucks!!! Really loved the show hope it comes back.
I waited eargly for each episode of the Defenders. What a damn shame it was cancelled. c’mon CBS, bring them back. Enough of all the reality nonsense.
Just finished watching seaason one via Netflix and I loved it, hopefully CBS will bring this one back! Not much else going on besides stupid reality shows. Come on CBS!
We watched every show on netflix and loved every episode. I am sorry they cancelled it. It was every bit as good as the other series we enjoyed that lasted for multiple series.
CBS,the defenders is a great show in fact one of thr best law show around.it mixes real legal practices w humour perfectly,pls pls order season 2.
What a drag; another engaging show down. I’ll miss it!
BULL **** you know this was the best show CBS had but come one you put it on ona friday of course numbers are gunna go down who doesnt go out on a friday?
I definitely do not think that this show should have been canceled. I like watching the Defense lawyers with a conscience. I know that there are some shows out there where toward the end of a season, they start to veer from the concept that the show originated with, but Defenders does not do that, which is why I love it!
I would love to have the show back up and running.
I can’t believe this show was canceled… it’s one of our favorites. That sucks!
I am so SAD! I LOVED THIS SHOW 🙁
I am so f*ing sick of CBS cancelling all the great shows based on some BS ratings that are truly bogus!!!!! I personally know over 100 people that LOVED the show and never missed it.. and not a one of those 100 has ever been included in any survey for what they watch… Never a Nielson family… If I personally know over 100, how many millions love the show and watch it but have never been asked if they watch it???? This is just like Ghost Whisperer and Numbers… Two shows that EVERYONE I know watched and loved…and POOF!!!!! Gone…… Read more »
We just finished watching the whole first season of The Defenders on Netflix and looked forward to every program. It is a delightful show. The characters are great. The stories are very interesting. The Las Vegas setting adds to the fun with all the glitter and the great time lapse skyline shots. I saw a couple of programs during the regular season but could never remember when they were supposed to be on. I was really happy to find them offered on Netflix. It is a shame the program is ending as my husband and I enjoyed The Defenders more… Read more »
what a shame and mistake! I watched –every–show, and loved all of them! chemistry and humor/serios acting were mixed great! I am tremendously disappointed it has been cancelled! Hope CBS reconsiders!
All the other shows should’ve been cancelled – I looked forward to watching the defenders – please please please put it back on