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.
I can’t believe this! The Unit was one of the best shows on television! You networks are so busy trying to “dumify” America with shows like Next top model, Kate and 8, and whatever crap! The Unit shows what our men and women actually go through and have gone through! It is filled with intelligence, loyalty and adventure. Heaven forbid these things be promoted in a country that was built on men and women risking their lives for others to be free! If you wouldn’t keep moving the nights and times on the show, it would probably get a higher… Read more »
Thanks to the cast and crew for a great run. An excellent show with substance. Who knows, maybe one of the cable channels will pick it up.
I am very dissappointed to say the least. I loved this show. I was looking to see when it was coming back on, only to find out it was cancelled. I am 30 years old, and my husband and I never missed an episode. We don’t watch all these so called reality shows. The reality is they are all filled with lying, cheating, back stabbing, people and this show was closer to reality than any of them.
The Unit was only reason I even bothered to watch CBS. It will probably be replaced with some bedwettin’ hospital show or some reality show. I don’t understand people or how they can dive so deep into stupidity. I suppose if the show isn’t left enough then it’s not worthy of being watched. Thank you CBS for ******** up something else.
I just did a search for the Unit’s premier episode this year and am also shocked to discover that the Unit was canceled. I have been a faithful fan since the first episode and agree that it was one of the best programs on TV. I also watch Without a Trace which has also been canceled. I now have an additional 2 hours of non-TV watching weekly. With the dumbing down of America, there will be more “reality shows” on the horizon. Hopefully, the replacement shows will be monumental failures for CBS.
CBS must stand for Complete Bull S—! This was the only show I watched on CBS for good reason, it was the only good thing on CBS. It was one of the best shows ever on the tube in my opinion. Too bad $$$ have to get in the way of good shows, but I understand that the bottom line is what business is all about.
Of all the shows that I have watched over the years, the Unit was one of the best dramas on TV. If CBS left it on its original time slot after another great show NCIS the ratings would have stayed up there. Instead they have all of those crappy Reality shows that are total BS, like the next top model, Big Brother, and survivor plus a bunch of others. Why couldn’t the top guy at CBS use his head and cancel those useless shows and keep a program like this on the air, I would of thought after seeing the… Read more »
Well, now I’m bummed. I’ve been waiting for the new season and now find out it’s not coming back. Finally, a show for adults and it gets cancelled. A great cast, good acting, interesting story lines, believable….. and now gone….. what a shame
We watched every episode of the Unit. However; I think they began losing the foundation of the show by writing to much of the story on the wives.. sorry! The action packed portions were believable and interesting. In reality, the wives would never be that involved in the missions; and it was totally unbelivable. BRING IT BACK… SANS THE WIVES! My husband and 21 year old son agree that was the downfall of the show, a little is ok but the writers went to far
I’m DEVASTATED that the Unit was canceled. It was my favorite show.
Big mistake, CBS.
CBS are jackasses for cancelling the best show on TV. Are you kidding me. Cancel a reality show , forencis, or cop show. God knows we have enough of those. Why cancel one of the most unique shows on TV. What idiots…..
My father was Air Force, 22 years. My Son was Regular Army 6years and is still in the Reserves. My daughter was Army for 1year before forced to leave with a Medical Discharge due to an injury. The Unit didn’t always portray the characters realistically but it portrayed the military proud and finally in a good light as far as family, loyalty to that family and their country, duty, honor, selflishness to protect us all. I always tell people who disagree with the war in Iraq and Afganistan, my family has served to protect your right to protest, and whether… Read more »
I will truly miss this seasons show “The Unit”,,,It was a great series to watch and was like reading something from Robert Luddlum novels. Nothing else is as entertaining, one more night of nothing good on…..Hope it comes back
BRING BACK “THE UNIT!”
Unbelieveable! I just learned that the UNIT was cancelled! I’m very disappointed and agree with others in this trail about how great the show was. I hope CBS reconsiders….