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 one of the few shows I watched on a regular basis, I’m actually disapointed. I guess it goes to show that the producers care more about the almighty dollar than their customer base.
That was terrible! I had been anticipating the Unit, season 5 premiere. This show is amazing and I really wish it would come back. Just my opinion, but we have more than enough dumb reality TV and crime dramas. That was an amazing original show and now we have unoriginal and predictable shows that are a waste to watch. Way to go CBS. Please bring back the unit! Can’t we have a little variety to choose from, all talent shows, all nurse shows, all reality shows — While the unit was in a class by it’s self, entertaining, suspenseful, riveting… Read more »
This is LAME. That was an amazing original show and now I’m let with unoriginal and predictable shows that are a waste to watch. Way to go CBS. Please bring back the unit!
How can big brother still be on and not The Unit?
My husband and I are very disappointed. We are tired of reality TV and all the Cop/Detective shows out there. This was a nice change to evening television. We don’t watch much TV as there just isn’t quality shows on anymore but this was our favorite. Sorry to see it end.
My family is very disappointed that The Unit was cancelled! It was a show I could actually watch with my teenagers. What are they going to replace it with? Another “reality” show?!?!?!?! or another NCIS type show!?!?!?!?! Since I haven’t seen anything promoting the 5th season, I assume CBS stuck with their decision to cancel. Not a smart choice on their part.
In a world where parading scantily clad, morally questionable women for the gratification of an over the hill rock star/rapper counts as entertainment, CBS decides to cancel The Unit. WOW! Just an opinion, but we have more than enough dumbed-down reality TV and crime dramas. CBS should check it’s own programming guide: 3 CSI’s, 2 NCIS’, 5 more crime dramas, and 5 reality shows. One would think you’d have room to showcase the men and women serving our country in the military. To cancel a show with great characters, storyline, and a dedicated following (even though you tried your best… Read more »
When “The Unit” was on during the week I would go into work early so that I was sure to make it home to see it. People told me to get DVR, (which I did) but never DVR’d it because that would be sac-religious. Then when it moved to Sunday I still watched but was frustrated when it would sometimes just not come on or would be a re-run. Long story short ….. greatest show ever!!!! Please put into syndication and have Dirt Diver whack the Col.
I am 24 years old and have been watching this show since it started. Towards the end I was upset when I would either see a re-run or no Unit at all. This show is amazing and I really wish it would come back. Either way, I am still glad it was on for that period of time. Bring it back and make a lot of people happy!
That was terrible! My husband and I had been anticipating the Unit, season 5 premiere. It seems to me that CBS had already given up on the Unit last year. It was ridiculous how I had to flipped between the time it was suppose to air and the time it actually did air. I mean it didn’t even start at a standard time slot. For example, every show either started at the top of the hour (10:00) or the middle of the hour (10:30). CBS had this show airing in, for example, a 10:22 or 10:48 time slot. I mean… Read more »
CBS doesn’t care. They like all corporate scum they want money and the they see young perverted toilet humor narcissistic comedies and reality programs the new wave. Duty, Honor and Country doesn’t mean squat to these vermin and would sell their mother for a buck. Another great show with lots of heart bites the dust. Thanks you CBS dirt balls may you all burn.
I can’t believe that “the Unit” has been cancelled.There is so little to watch anymore.The only channel that I do watch is CBS on Mon-Wed and on Tuesday it’s only NCIS. I have to watch repeats of old tv shows, at least until “24” comes back. I hope “The Unit” goes into syndication and gets picked up by another network.
I am so disappointed. I own every season! I have been looking forward to this show coming back on and I am so sad! I wouldn’t go anywhere on Sunday nights. There are plenty of other horrible shows that could have been cancelled. Very disappointed in this decision.
I can’t believe they canceled The Unit!!!! I thought I saw an ad during the summer that it had been switched to Wed. nite….CSI:NY is on and it’s not even watchable. The Unit was my fav show on tv…. I’ve turned the tube off for the evening. I’m watching less and less- I haven’t watched any late nite since Leno went off the air.
I think that cbs is ******** around with a hit, but they have done it before. It almost makes me feel like boycotting cbs. they said it was half the price to shoot the series than otherprime time dramas. Get rid of that smug David caruso on csi miami as a matter of fact replaceit with the UNIT. Another reason is they will not make any thing when The Unit goes into syndication. So they are more interested in future money than keep a show that is as good as the UNIT. I along with most of my friends love… Read more »