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.
My husband and I watched this show religiously. I think it is a crying shame that it was cancelled. Everytime a show comes on worth watching it is cancelled. What was it, so that they can add another reality show? Yeah, like we need another one of those. Seriously.
Great show, I always looked forward to watching. I think one reason the ratings went down was when they moved it to Sunday night and the football game would run late. The Unit would come on at 10:30 or so later on those nights. I’m in my 30’s and me and my wife loved this show. Very poor choice. I to am tired of the American Idol and Dance with the stars type of shows.
WOW! I cant beleive it! no UNIT….talk about having withdrawls, now CBS really sucks! I wonder if there’s a way to take CBS off my tv station guide. ha! I know it now im gonna cancell CBS!!! good bye!
Their ratings wouldn’t have gone down if the network didn’t change the Unit’s scheduling. Also, when the network did, they didn’t bother to advertise the new schedule. I thought the show was gone, but stumbled on it half way through the season on a sunday night at 1000hrs. It was the best show on TV.
Life will be incomplete without THE UNIT. Don’t bother watching CBS this season because all you’ll “SEE” is “B.S.
You say that the audience went down year over year well it wouldnt have anything to do with the crappy time slot that you placed the show in would it??
When you place a show where you know there is no viewers and it still pulls more viewer than the shows that it competes with should tell you it is worth keeping.. average viewer age 55 that is hard to believe…
Wow….if I seriously have to watch another reality show I’m going to throw up. I live reality every day. I don’t want to watch it on TV when I get home too. Bring back The Unit!!
Unbelievable! What the heck are these people thinking? To say that the cancelation of The Unit is disappointing would be an incredible understatement! They should drop one the same ol’ same ol’ forensics shows instead. This was a sadly under promoted and under appreciated GREAT SHOW. I really wish someone would reconsider airing it. Please.
with all the stupid realality shows cbs cancels the unit
Another quality show bites the dust. It makes me sad, that it seams that the American people will accept formulated and reality T.V. as a mainstay for entertainment.
Wendy September 18, 2009 at 6:09 pm Dear CBS Executives, While the world exists in reality, your idea of “reality” does not exist in the world. “Survivor”?? Let’s get real. How many of us will actually be marooned with a bunch of other folks in some far away place and have to compete (and win) at a bunch of games to stay with the group? And by the way, how do you get an immediate free ride home, after losing games, if you’re really marooned? Remind me to make my travel plans through you for my next vacation, please? “Big… Read more »
I think I like “The Unit” so much because when undertaking an operation they got the job done. No “PC” politician could stand up to the group for too long! They handled things the way they should be handled. CBS you are a tired old network with no vision. I guess you’ll give Dave [puke] Letterman a prime time talk show like NBC did with Leno , or please help us another reality show. I will record any shows I watch on CBS and ignore all advertising.
My wife and I are really bummed that The Unit has been canned. It was one the best shows ever. It kept men and women glued, waiting to see what was going to happen next. We are in our early 30’s by the way and will now be missing out on a show that was well written, acted, and always had a great storyline and plot. Bring it back. Don’t put another lame reality show or some sitcom with washed up actors. Bring The Unit back please. Mahalo.
I really liked all seasons of the show until the last. When they brought the wives into operations it was not realistic.
This is so stupid CBS used to be the only channel we watched until they started canceling all the good shows and replaceing them with stupid ones smarten up bring back the unit!