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.
No ending cbs the canned laughter station. lots of luck ,thank goodness for cable shows and movies.I should have known better.Keep your canned laughter shows
OMG! Why do networks cancel great shows that are profitable for another unknown. Don’t we have enough forensic/procedural shows like the CSIs? Canceling “The Unit” and bringing a new “CSI: LA” is just plain stupidity. I don’t want to eat the same thing every week let alone every night but that’s just what CBS is going to try to do. With all these CSIs on the network it’s going to become real easy to get bored with the same type of show hour after hour, night after night and many of them having the same three letters ‘CSI’, ho hum… Read more »
It is possible that president Palmer from “24” prepared us for the new president that we have, in the same way “The unit” could prepare us for the freedown sacrifices that we need to do to fight and prevail against terrorrism.
The decision to renew or cancel a serie not only came down to finance but also to ideological issues. To build a good serie is not easy, but when you already have it and people are able to coomunicate with it, why to look for another that you don’t know how it could be? With “the Unit” CBS not only could make money but also contribute to help people to understand that our justice system is unable to fight terrorism and need special license in war time.
How to understand that a good antiterrorism serie has been canceled and substitute for another one that show crime and family issues as many others? There is only one more like this “24.” A good antiterrorism serie contribute to educate people and prepare for the future.
CBS please change your minds!!! There isn’t another show like the Unit and too many similar shows are already on the airwaves. Keep the faith!
it ******** fhat cbs has all the csi show and cancel good kike the unit
the unit was the best show on tv and cbs isnt really the idiots out there but they are number 1 if there is a smart network out there the unit would have already been picked up by one of them so i say to all the networks out there one of you should really pick up the unit cause it is well written with great characters and with so many great stories to be told about the special forces do it to show respect for our country and the men and women who are really fighting to protect our… Read more »
I can’t live without this series. How could you think about cancellation? Maybe a little advertising hype like some of the other shows. I love love love it.
It’s like Mac told the girls, “No news in the truth, no truth in the news.” CBS execs have their heads in the WRONG place to cancel such and incredible and ground-breaking show.
De Oppresso Liber – Ranger On! Fight to get it back!
The Unit was the only reason to watch tv. I love this show. It is way better than CSI, 24, any reality tv show, and the people at CBS are not thinking. They must be the dumbest people alive to cancel a GREAT tv show. I love the Unit and I’m a hardcore Unit fan! Like I stated it was the only reason to watch television!
Was very saddened to hear that CBS was cancelling The Unit. My husband and I have watched every episode from the very start. After the season finale this past May, so many loose ends were left and now we will never know the outcome. The least CBS could do, is to give it a proper send off. Hopefully, another network would pick this show up. I have to say, this is a very dumb move on CBS.
I JUST CAN’T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WOULD CANCEL SUCH A GREAT SHOW I HOPE THEY DON’T PUT ON ANOTHER CSI SHOW ARE A POLICE SHOW.I WON’T WATCH CBS ANYMORE
As much as I enjoy CSI/NCIS, why would you add yet another one over THE UNIT? Enough with the procedural shows. THE UNIT was very entertaining!
I am so disappointed The Unit has been cancelled. They say the average viewership is age 55. However I am a 36 year old female and love this show…especially Max Martini. I was so looking forward to the new season and getting back to the more run of the mill Unit type shows that were featured in seasons 1 and 2.