Today certainly wasn’t a good day for fans of The Unit. CBS cancelled the show after four seasons on the air. For producers of the series however, today’s dark cloud also had a silver lining.
Though there won’t be any new episodes featuring Dennis Haysbert, Regina Taylor, Robert Patrick, Scott Foley and company, the show will return to the airwaves next year.
The show’s studio, 20th Century TV, announced today that the military drama has been sold in syndication. According to the Hollywood Reporter, The Unit has been cleared in 56% of the country, including Fox and CBS stations. It’s sold in all 15 of the top markets, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Dallas.
Because only 69 episodes have been produced, the stations are likely to run episodes only once or twice a week. While several series have been saved recently because of potential syndication profits, there’s seemingly no interest in continuing The Unit. This likely stems from the fact that hour-long dramas aren’t as popular in syndication as half-hour sitcoms.
The series launches into syndication beginning in the Fall of 2010.
Image courtesy CBS.
The Unit was one of the best shows on television. It was a unique show which my whole family enjoyed. I am really disappointed to see it cancelled while much of the sit-com garbage remains.
The Unit was one of the best shows on television. It was a unique show which my whole family enjoyed. I am really disappointed to see it cancelled while much of the sit-com garbage remains.
The Unit was one of my husband, son and my favorite programs maybe if you would quit moving the shows around or putting them on hiatis the would have much better ratings!!!
Bad move by CBS. Funny every sit com is the same recycled garbage. The cop shows are dark and push the “shocker” envelope most are twisted and sick. Then finally the never ending boring who cares reality TV. This show was never given it’s fair shot. Then again I’m convinced that the liberal networks don’t want to glorify our military in any way. Far better to pollute the airwaves with all the other junk they insist on broadcasting. Is there any wonder why nobody watches network TV anymore. This is just another reason not to.
The Unit was the best show on TV. Intelligent and compelling. Even when my husband was in the hospital we watched it. Not a “cookie cutter” program. Shame on CBS.
I really hate that they have decided to cancel this show. I was hooked from the first time I saw it. Cbs made a mistake putting this show on sunday. It was such a hassle to record it because they have nothing on the line up that I watch except the unit so I had to keep checking to see how late the other shows were running.They should redo their deal and reconsider a better night for the show when the cbs sports are not interfering
What is wrong with the idiots running all the networks? The Unit is a great show and it should be back.The reality shows need to go,as well as Katie Couric and the CBS News Shows which aren’t even worth watching.There is too much of the same stuff on such as all the CSI spin-offs and the Law and Order stuff.Besides that,why do the networks always leave the viewer hanging when they cancel something? Can’t they at least bring it to a reasonable conclusion? I definitely won’t be watching anything else on CBS,except for Navy CIS and their country music specials.
I am former military and so is my husband and we absolutely love this show. We watch it every week and have never missed an episode. We think this is such a horrible call on CBS’ part to take away one of the best shows they have on late night!!! Please reconsider…
It’s a shame that The Unit is being cancelled. When CBS moved it to Sunday, it was hard to catch. I had to record two programs, sometimes 3 to watch it. Couldn’t watch live because I have to get up so early Monday a.m. and the show was usually pushed back due to other programing. It used to be on a weeknight. I hope something happens and someone picks it up and creates new episodes.
this is a travesty. my fellow soldiers and i love this show. when we can access the internet we pay for and download episodes from itunes. we have been deployed now for almost a year, and it has been a joy watching the unit. guys who had never seen an episode were instantly hooked. great show. terrible judgment on the part of cbs.
The reason the ratings dropped for this show was because of the writers starting to put wives on missions. I know it’s a V show but jeez this made it so unrealistic for military fans that we gave up on the show.
And because the show never starts on time. There is always a a game on that pushes it back by 30-45 minutes…so recording it doesn’t go well. If you’re on time to watch it you have to fight to stay awake through Cold Case.
I’m devastated that they’ve canceled THE BEST SHOW on TV (The Unit). I hate reality shows and there’s precious little of anything else out there. I agree with the poster that suggested Fox pick up The Unit and team it with 24. That would be an awesome night of television!!!
This is the most disappointing cancellation of the season. Keep this on to support the troops. Due to this show my husband has even started buying the books. We never missed and episode. We always watched this show like and not recorded like on our other shows. Please reconsider and give the show one more season.
i cant believe they cancelled the UNIT. My husband and I dont miss this show. It seems everytime I find a show I love they cancel it. I hope FOX will pick it up.
Shame on you, CBS!! The Unit is one of the best programs on television and it is a shame that it has been cancelled. I was confident that it would be a television staple for many seasons to come. I am happy for the syndication, but would like to see the program continue to be created and produced. How could CBS cancel a program produced by pulitzer prize-winning author David Mamet and his equally talented sister Lynn, only to be replaced by more celebrity/survival show nonsense? In addition to the excellent writing, the acting in the Unit has been superb.… Read more »