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.
PLEASE DON’T DO THIS!!!! BRING THE UNIT BACK!!!!!
Canceling the Unit is the bigest mistake CBS has ever made . It was so different than anything out there . another studio should take the show and continue it who the did to scrubs ….. there will never be a show like THE UNIT ….
Ok, lets see. Uhh im 14 years old and i am wanting to go to West Point Military Academy. I hate this show right? WTF!!!!! YOU KIDDING ME!!!! me and my dad always wait every week to see when it is on. We had a race to see who could get the time before the other. Me and my dad would sit down in front of the TV together to watch it. It was fun and it was fun to talk about it during the week. What will Jonas do? Who is gonna die!!! Oh man! Why can’t u make… Read more »
the Unit is my favorite show I cant believ you cancelled it. That totaly stinks. I even bought the book “Inside Delta Force” and read it. I wish some one would let me do a rating for once on what I watch
Well who ever made the decision to cancel the Unit surely must have had something mixed in with their coffee! I watched the Unit every week and never missed watching it till they made the decision to take it off of Tuesday nights and put it on Sunday nights. What a Bone Head idea. I knew when they did that it was doomed. You got Sports on before Prime Time TV and if they ran late everything got delayed. Many of us have to get up early in the morning and staying up till who knows when isn’t going to… Read more »
WAKE UP CBS!!! ARE YOU LISTENING TO EVERYONE???!!! Who’s watching the store? Between moving it around all the time and setting it up to record only to end up tape the end of Cold Case and the first 30 min. of the Unit because of golf/football ,etc. (I’m such a big fan, i set up to record 3hr. just so i won’t miss any). THEN, you put on repeats of NCIS and CSI. Which I’m a fan but, give a break you repeat them over and over and over!! NOW, you are putting on the Ghost Whisper and Medium?? Ask… Read more »
You’re viewership dropped down because every other week the show was was not on due a showing of some other lame reality junk. People got tired of trying to figure out if it was on. Also don’t forget the writers strike. That killed viewership as well. Of course we would rather watch Dancing With the Amazin World Race Loosers!!!!!
I think we should start a petition. Im sick of seeing shows that are decent get cancelled to be replace by something that every other network already has five of the same on air. Way to go CBS what new CSI will you be replacing The Unit with, let me guess CSI: no one cares anymore. So here is another you can add to the line up Survivor Uranus that way everyone can see where your heads are at.
BRING THE UNIT BACK!!!!!!!!!
My husband and I looked so forward to seeing the unit each week. All our friends loved it too.
Maybe, the show should make a movie or two, like Sex and the City did. We would certainly go.
I’ve been waiting for months for the season premiere of The Unit! We have been faithful watchers since the beginning. It is one of the only shows that my husband and I watched together and never missed!! I can also tell you that we are well below the 50 year mark that is said to be the demographic watching this show!! We are very disappointed and I can tell you that there aren’t any other shows in your line up that I will be watching or that can even come near the caliber of actors and actresses on The Unit!!… Read more »
CBS: I HATE YOU! From a 37 year high income earner. I have been an avid fan of the show, but of course you kept moving it around and making it hard to find. So stupid on your part to cancel this show. I’m not interested in any of your other crappy shows.
As with the rest of you, I want The Unit back! There seems to be less and less of TV the interests my family. We are all tired of reality shows. We like investigation shows, but it seems like we’re getting too much of a good thing!
CBS, you stink! There is no other show on TV that evoked the same of feeling for us as the Unit. It had all the necessary elements, hot guys, hero’s, chicks, sex and kicking enemy butt! Certainly reminded me of the sacrifice and risk our soldiers take every day for us. It was a cool show. By the way, nothing against being 55 or over, but we are in our early 40’s if you are doing a new poll.
How could they! My family has been waiting on the new season all summer! I am so disappointed!