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 was one of the best shows CBS had going for it. Maybe they can add another CSI in yet another city or some other piece of s**t “reality show”
This will save me time from looking to CBS for something to watch, I hope many others do the same.
The Unit is a great show. I couldn’t watch it every Sunday but would catch it on the re-runs. If the show was on at a better day and time, I know it would catch on. It hooked me in the second season. I hope a miracle happens.
This is by far the greatest show in the last few years. Please do not cancel it!
My whole family watches this show.
OMG!!! I can’t believe you cancelled “The Unit”. Was definitely one of my favorites. Bad decision, CBS!!!
Disregard previous. I mean CBS!!!
OMG!!! I can’t believe you cancelled “The Unit” What a great show. It was definitely on my favorites list. Bad decision, ABC!!!
Big mistake will not watch any show on cbs ever again. you took off the best show that has been on in a long time. Your loss too bad
I’ve written to you before and never got the courtesy of a response concerning The Unit. My opinion is that not only is this a serious mistake, but you have other programming that is terrible. Then you take off a series that not only holds and captures people’s attention but is intriguing as well. My hope is that you would bring it BACK
This is huuugely disappointing! Many of our “couple” friends in their 30s love this show. It’s got something for the guys and something for the girls. Not to mention the fact that it reminds us of the bravery of our men and women in service to our country. Bad, bad choice – you take off this quality show and continue to run crap.
o wow this is so messed up!!!!! i go to iraq while season 4 is on and and come back to find out that is has been cancelled!!! i know bout like over 300 other marines who watch the show too and r mad bout when we have heard when we got back
CBS is responsible for low ratings. They took the unit off the air. Then they moved it around in its schedule. No wonder people are flocking to FOX. CBS or Clinton Broadcast Servants are rapidly declining.
The Unit and NFL football are the only reasons I watch CBS. They need to reconsider canceling the show because it had a true underground following that I believe would support any sponsor advertising in its slot.
this might be one of the worst decisions your network has done, pull one of the other shows. the unit was a show that showed the wonderful sacrafices that men and women dealt with everyday. It was a well acted and produced show that will be truly missed my everyone I know and hopefully the people will respond and you will show some smarts and sell the rights or bring it back. I will hopefully be watching it again soon!!
I am bummed that they cancelled “The Unit”. Me and my 14 year old son would watch this religiously. We would DVR it and watch it on Mondays. I hope someone picks this show up.
My husband and I are really disappointed to hear The Unit has been cancelled. We thought it was one of the best shows on television. Bring it back or sell the rights to another channel. You should’ve cancelled Numbers or Cold Case, but not The Unit. What a bummer. Bad decision.