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 knew it was too good to last. This show really opened the airwaves to quality viewing. I wouldn’t ever miss a live episode. I only went to the web or DVR, to watch it again. My friends were also of this elk. Do the advertisers realize that they actually had an live audience who was paying attention? I’m one of those (+ or -) 55 year old people who were inlcuded in the demographic. I think it’s funny that they want younger viewership, when we are the guys with the money. The advertisements that ran on this show were… Read more »
My fiance and I never missed the Unit! We’re not at all happy with this decision 🙁 This fantastic show needs to come back!!
What a load! That show is fantastic! My fiance and I watch it every week that it’s on. I mean all of the build up and then nothing. Last night we couldn’t figure out why there were two hours or repeats. Well we are not at all happy with this.
The crazies are running the networks! A show with strong characters and great story lines is taken off the air probably to make room for more of those lame “reality shows” that focus on self-aggrandizing publicity seekers who demonstrate high levels of nastiness toward a bunch of idiot wannabes.
The Unit was an excellently produced series with quality character development. The actors were cast perfectly and are a credit to their profession. Unfortunately, CBS placed it in a suicide time slot on Sundays; where it was constantly delayed due to NFL game over runs and opposite ABC’s Deperate Housewives & Brothers and Sisters. But cheer up, now there is more room for additional CSIs, NCISes, Survivors, Amazing Races and don’t forget the mind numbing How I Met Your Mother, Accidently On Purpose, Gary Unmarried, and one of my favorites, New Adventures of Old Christine (stupid, stupid, stupid).
WOW! I spent over an hour last evening trying to figure out why The Unit that was on was a repeat. Like many others, we’d been waiting all summer to see the next series. When something like this cancellation happens, it’s easy to see why FOX beats the networks in the ratings and viewership. Whether it’s the news (which the mainstream media doesn’t cover if it isn’t favorable to the liberal left) or a show like The Unit, the execs at CBS and other ?mainstream? media are so out of touch with the people of American, it’s pitiful. The suggestion… Read more »
cbs executives must have some brown smelly stuff in their ears, after cancelling moonlight, they did not learn anything and cancel another show that has a very loyal following. on top of that they bring medium over from nbc’s graveyard. smart, real smart.
Here, here. First Jericho, now this. Guess it’s all about money. So, What WE FANs must do is really organize and find a meaningful way to let CBS know it made a financial mistake. Is there a way to find out who the show’s sponsors had been? I think it would be great if we could put together an electronic letter stating our appreciation for the show and send it to the advertisers who now have to spend their money elsewhere. We will tell them what we liked about the show and that we appreciated their sponsorship. We will ask… Read more »
every show i actually like ends up cancelled. Jericho, The Unit, Firefly, and some others. This is Crap. People like us dont get tv shows for long. And im not going to start watching dancing with the stars.
If they cancel a show this good and do not bring it back. I guess they have given up and just want everyone to go to the pay cable channels or the internet. What a bunch of idiots!
It is really sad that CBS has decided to take off ‘The Unit.’ Because of its moral and positive elements in the midst of a real world made of many conflicts made this one of the top relevant tv shows ever made. Whatever happened to what Americans wanted? This show meets the needs of many of our military (at all ages), and non military as well. The lesson is simple, yet extremely important. Freedom costs! And most of the time it is paid with the blood, sweat and tears of our loved ones! Why does CBS continue to push a… Read more »
I say NUTS!! to CBS. What a bunch of liberal turds. Remember Jerico? Maybe you should. That’s the only reason I was watching CBS. Maybe another network will be wise enough to pick it up.
I CAN’T BELIEVE IT! The Unit – Cancelled. This was the only show on the air that had any semblance of imagination in its writing, and was successful w/o unnecessary swearing, gratuitous sex, and the glorification of POOR life choices and character flaws. It was a show that appealed to REAL men, and REAL women, showing masculinity and femininity appropriately. Anytime there is a successful drama with a strong and intelligent male as the lead (Dennis Haysbert), it just happens to get cancelled (i.e. New York Undercover -Malik Yoba). This STINKS – if you know what I mean. What are… Read more »
Wow!!! Can’t believe you canx the best show on your network. The ratings may not reflect this, however the loyal fans commenting should definitely provide an indication. This is the only show I watch “faithfully” on this network. Really don’t understand this decision…you have a great show that is inexpensive to produce and consistently provides one of the best ROI precentages. Is there a new young rookie at the helm of CBS?
Very upset like the rest of you responding. This was the one show I was looking forward to with the fall season starting. I cannot believe CBS gave up on this quality program. It is very frustrating with so much crap tv.