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 agree with most of the comments made. I mean come on, three CSI shows, really? My husband and I were both faithful viewers as well as our best friends, siblings and father. All of us, with exception of my father, are not 55 and are not near that age. This show needs to be brought back and it needs to be put in a prime time spot. An 8/7 central or 9/8 central would be ideal. Maybe you did not get enough viewers because it was always on too late. PLEASE, PLEASE bring back THE UNIT. You brought back… Read more »
CBS…this is an awful mistake. Personally, I like NCIS as well as the LA version, but not at the expense of The Unit. The Unit (by far) was the best show CBS had. Like someone said earlier, sporting events, NCIS and that’s it for CBS.
PLEASE, bring the show back!!!!
My girlfriend and I both come from strong military
legacies. The Unit, we feel, come as close as possible
to showing the reality of Special Forces without
violating FCC standards of decency or State Department
secrets. But it was a bit sloppy in its treatment of
the French and antiwar groups. “The Wall” by French writer
Satre is a great war story and many war protestors have
highly decorated members in their own families.
Guess Hemmingway himself is out of fashion too.
great
I really miss the unit…its ashame the net work execs cancelled it….I want it back
CBS needs The Unit back or their goning down the tubes
I am a mother of three young children, so making time in my schedule to watch a tv show is rare. However, I LOVE this show. I am quite disappointed. I even got my husband into sitting and watching it.
Sporting events will now be the only reason for me, my family, and numerous friends to go to CBS. The Unit even the excessive non-action side stories was the only show worth an hour of my time.
dg
CBS, You just went on my ###### list. When you canaelled The Unit you cancalled the best show on tv in many years.Being an x Marine I liked the characters and the stories.I think I will boycott CBS and get my friends to do the same. Signed MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.
i am 23 and my entire family watched it and it was the only show i watched on CBS.
CBS, you made a mistake canceling this show….NCIS LA is horrible…..you should cancel that and bring back The Unit!
My family and I loved watching The Unit. We are so sorry to see it go. This is one more time slot we will be giving to TLC, Discovery or History Channel. I am just sick of seeing the reality shows. Now we will only be watching Two and a Half Men, How I Met Your Mother and NCIS. There really isn’t that much left to watch on any of the networks. CBS you are making a mistake here.
i am very dissappointed that the unit is cancelled, especially without warning. was really looking forward to this season. though i understand it comes down to ratings. i would much rather have the unit over ncis la. dont get me wrong ncis la is ok, given the choice i would have preferred the unit. i would not hold it against you if you told me what was going to happen in the season we missed. lol but no really. thank you for your time. non veteran mexican american in wi.
Why do you always cancel a great show and keep shows that suck? I have loved The Unit since day one. I do not watch CBS any longer. I hope another network picks up The Unit and blows CBS away!!
hello my name is gary potter my son and i have watched that show sense it started my son is now in the army himself do to that show and is trying for the special forces because of that show it inspired him to do big things with his life and sense the show got cancelled he has been dicouraged so if you could bring the show back it would sure mean alot
thank you
sincerely,
Gary L. Potter
CBS………YOU SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!