There’s another casualty on network TV. CBS’ military drama, The Unit, has been cancelled after four seasons on the air.
The Unit revolves around an elite military unit and their civilian loved ones. The series features the talents of Dennis Haysbert, Regina Taylor, Audrey Marie Anderson, Robert Patrick, Max Martini, Abby Brammell, Michael Irby, Scott Foley, Demore Barnes, Alyssa Shafer, Danielle Hanratty, Kavita Patil, and Rebecca Pidgeon.
Created by acclaimed director and writer David Mamet, the series debuted in mid-season 2006. An average audience of 15.5 million viewers ensured a second season for the drama but year two didn’t go as well, attracting 11.1 million viewers. The show has continued to decline in the ensuing years and season four has averaged an audience of 9.67 million. Though the overall viewership isn’t too low, the series does skew older. The average age of The Unit’s viewership is about 55.
The series has been “on the bubble” for awhile and many took it as a bad sign when showrunner Shawn Ryan signed on to helm FOX’s Lie to Me. Ryan however maintained that he would continue on both shows if The Unit was renewed. He’d previously performed double duty while working concurrently on The Unit and The Shield.
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Like most of the networks’ actions these days, the decision to renew or cancel came down to finances. CBS had asked for all of its shows to reduce their budgets. The Unit is actually already cheaper to produce than it looks. Shot primarily in Southern California, it costs less than $3 million per episode to produce. That’s about half as expensive as other primetime dramas.
A couple weeks ago, Haysbert told the LA Times that he was unsure if he wanted the show to come back if it meant making too many creative and salary concessions. He said, “There are a number of factors that go into whether I want it back or not. It’s been a great ride and, if I don’t work with these people again, I’ll certainly play golf with them.”
In an age when the networks and studios have to watch every dollar, they’ve all been favoring renewing shows that are created by sister or in-house production companies. Since 20th Century Fox TV produces the show, the network wouldn’t benefit if the show went into syndication.
Prior to the cancellation news, Gary Newman, chairman of The Unit’s studio, said, “For the CBS viewer, this show is unique. The audience may not be huge, but there’s going to be enormous disappointment if it goes off and it’s replaced with one more procedural or forensics show.”
Image courtesy CBS.
This is horrible!!!! The best show on CBS. Once you moved it around time slots, that’s how you lose viewers. Put it back on Tuesday nights and you will see numbers go back up.
Very disappointed,
Ron THE UNIT FAN
CBS planned to cancel this show when they moved it away from NCIS a very powerful pair of shows. While adding a new NCIS show to their line up, they continue to play lip service to our men and women in uniform while canceling a show that showed all aspects of military life while and the sacrifices they and their loved ones make on a daily basis to keep our country free.
The Unit was a great original show, not like all the cop or forensic junk that is currently on TV. They killed the show when they moved it to Sunday at 9pm and Cold Case always ran late, which messed up the routine viewing of the show. Move it back to prime time on a Tuesday and watch the numbers come back.
Very disappointed to find out today the Unit was cancelled. It was one of the few shows I really enjoyed. Part of the problem with vewership was the fact that CBS kept changing the day it appeared or pre-empted it for other shows. I will really miss it. Too bad CBS feels that the 55+ population doesn’t need to be catered to too. I’m tired of all the dumb reality shows. Absolutely refuse to watch any of them. Maybe we’ll see The Unit on cable one of these days. One can only hope.
I wish someone would decide to bring this show back. It was the only thing I watched on tv because I hate all the other crap on there.
Very Very disappointed you canceled the Unit. We are watching less TV because you seem to be canceling all the good shows. Hope one of the other networks will pick it up,
Now what are we supposed to do on sunday nights? What a great show, didn’t know it was cancelled until today. My dad will be mad, so now we can look forward to Big Brother, yeah………………..
It was STUPID to cancel The Unit, I am also tired of all the dumb reality shows. CBS please bring back the show.
i just found out about the cancellation of the Unit. this is the only show on tv that i watch or like. what a shame!
My husband and I are very disappointed the Unit has been cancelled. It is a great show. I am sick and tired of stupid reality shows and CSI in every state and so on…..this show was great we looked forward to seeing it every week. I actually did not know until today it was cancelled I was checking to see the new season start date….possible they will reconsider??
Figures CBS probably has the same execs that destroyed the banking industry be a D-Bag screw everything up and get a bonus. Sounds about right. I am 33 not real great at math but most of the ages I have seen posted are well under 55. at least when I went to school that didnt average out to 55. Hopefully someone will get smart and start picking up the shows the networks are dropping because there is a huge fan base. I don’t know what else to say other than I’m Pissed and do not plan to watch any of… Read more »
Idiots. Cbs execs are idiots. Want to pinch pennies? Try cutting your own paychecks.
You are replacing the Unit with another medical drama – are you serious?!?! And you are bringing NCIS – Los Angeles? Do you really think the 1st one was that good?
Stop breathing the ozone – America would like variety.
You could also take a minute to examine your data – your “bubble shows” over the years have probably been your bread and butter.
Stupid – CBS is stupid. Here’s an idea – save your cash, pinch your pennies by cutting network head salaries or how about the paycheck of Charlie Sheen. And come to find out you are replacing it with another Medical drama?! And you brought in NCIS – Los Angeles? Stop breathing the ozone in LA – America would like some variety – we don’t all want medical dramas and forensic shows. This is another illustration of what is wrong with CBS and other channels like it. If you did the math long term, you might find that all your “bubble… Read more »
Well we will continue to be bombarded with 18 different versions of CSI, Law and Order, and now NCIS. So much for original programming where a person can enjoy something different than the same thing in a differnet city. I am very disappointed in the decision to cancel this show. I was an avid fan and loved all the characters and story lines.
Sure think CBS has made a big mistake. They said the average audience age is 55. They are the ones that stay home, buy the products advertised and so on. They should cancel some of the reality show crap that is on tv.