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.
i loved the show!!!!!!!! its awesome and i´m very sorry that there´s not a 2 season
it’s always the same….they often cancell shows that ordinary people like…..
but they wont cancell B»ig brother or survivor…. oh no!!!!
i loved human target,
I am SO sick of the market being dominated by these reality crap shows. Seriously, this was a GREAT series, with great acting, great story lines, and direction. I am NOT becoming a fan of CBS.
I am sooooo pissed it was cancelled. This was one of the better shows on TV. They sent them to a crappy time slot and wondered why it didn’t do well. That is why I just watch USA and TNT. Their stuff is much better!
What – another of the really smart shows on TV not given a fighting chance — come on CBS, this and Chaos too????? I am so sick of all the “reality shows” that you keep renewing and bringing back…. so boring! And, I really think that CSI has run its course.
hoped*
OMG :((((((((( i’m so dissapointed, hope there will be a lot of seasons
I loved this show & I also loved The Shark which also got canceled. I am sick of CBS getting rid of all the good shows. Enough of CSI with all of its tag alongs. I am thinking of switching to a different station.
coudnt wait for season 2
the networks now tell us what we want to see
there is enough stress and concern in every day life that we dont need another law and order or csi.
this one was relaxing.
no wonder people watch more and more shows on internet and watch less tv.
I am gutted that there will be no 2nd series. I’m in the UK and have just watched the final episode here and really enjoyed all episodes and guest appearances from the likes of Dan Aykroyd and Kathy Griffin. Disappointed – especially when there are programmes which are much worse getting renewed (Two and a Half Men anyone?)
Two and a Half Men will probably be alot better now that Ashton has joined the show.
CBS are not very smart, They should have left on alittle longer, They would have more veiwers.
why…? T_T
Stupid CBS…
I absolutely LOVED that show!!!!! I can’t believe they’re gone after one season.
WHAT!!! I’m in the UK and I love that show, can’t believed they’ve axed yet another show I like….did they ever think of it’s millions of european viewers? nope I guess not.
I liked Eastwick aswell and that was blooming cancelled. What a shame, it’s all about money and not quality now…..gawd dang it CBS!