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.
 Loading ... |
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.
Bring it back I love the show and I’m not 55 either. I agree how many csi, ncis and reality shows do we need? WTF
Every Time there is a show worth watching it gets cancelled. The UNIT was the best show on TV. I was a Ranger in the Corps and The UNIT was very accurate in a lot of areas. DELTA FORCE is one of the most elite of all the services. Now who will sing their praises? Please Bring it back and while you’re at it, bring back TITUS. Then there will be 2 shows worth watching!
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? You’re canceling one of the best shows and replacing it with NCIS, Los Angeles? I’ve only seen three shows of the NCIS, in L.A. which the first one was an original NCIS but the L.A. version is like the characters are trying to be cool. You need to build up to that like the original NCIS. The show seems to be pushing you to like it already which is not very convincing. Trying to mimic it’s counterpart. PLEASE, PLEASE… BRING IT BACK! Give the production budget of NCIS, Los Angeles to continue The Unit! This is… Read more »
I was wondering what happened to it. Couldn’t figure out what happened. Now I know. I never missed an episode. I’m sorry to see it go. I agree with Fred; most of the shows are repetitive or so immoral it’s pathetic. I have pretty much stopped watching the network channels…..they are not worth watching.
I AM SO UPSET… My family loves this show! My hubby and I are or were both military and for once this was a show that had the military and their families without being a soap opera. Who can we talk to??? What can we do??? I say BRING IT BACK TOO!!! It never dawned on me that it was canceled. I only looked on line because I’d been waiting for it and couldn’t find it on the guide for Comcast and I just can’t believe it is canceled. 🙁
This was the only show worth watching on TV. I’m very sad that it isn’t coming back. Please reconsider and bring it back!
Please reconsider and renew The Unit. It was a uique and fascinating show. We miss it.
Moving it to Sunday night didn’t help the audience share & I knew then CBS was trying to kill it!! It was one of their best, I never missed it, & I am NOT 55! How many CSI & NCSI spin offs do we have to endure BUT lose a quality show like this one??? BRING it BACK!
my family love the the unit. we were waiting for the show to return. i am very disappointed.
I saw this coming when they moved the show to Sundays @ 9:00 CT, on top of that when I would go to watch the show something else was on in it’s place. It was my favorite show and I have all of the DVD sets. I don’t know about the rest of you but while I like NCIS, it’s getting old and predictable, now they have a new NCIS. I find myself skipping NCIS unless I’m just tired and want to watch TV. As far as the CSI shows I got tired of them too, same situation it is… Read more »
One of the most interesting shows on TV and you cancel it because there’s not enough sex and sin???? Give me a break. This is one of the best shows you’ve had in a while. CBS has been my favorite for a while but I’m beginning to think what the viewers have to say doesn’t matter to you. I’ve been waiting on the fall previews and looking forward to The Unit only to find it not coming back. I think I’ll switch to FOX and wait on “24” in January.
I was suprise that the Unit is canceled. I guess to be honest it shouldn’t surprise me. Why should the liberal media continue to portray the military as heroes right? I mean sure, there is a war on, so who would want to show that the military and their families in the positive light when it is so much more “convenient” to show how “blood thirsty” the military are right?. I believe that the “budget” talks is just a convenient way of telling the viewership that the military and their families should not be portrayed in a positive light, right?
The network moved the show every chance they had …. It is no wonder they lost viewers.
Hope a network will pick it up
“C “ommunist “B” ack “S”tabbers to take such a patriotic show off the air
CBS – this is the 2nd time you did this to me… first time was with Jericho. At least you offered up a decent series finale for Jericho and considering how much better the Unit is you should offer up a finale as well. The only 2 shows I’ve really like on your network and you canceled both.
I hope a smarter network picks up this gem of a show and continues on with it. Your loss CBS!