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.
What a damn shame. Once again viewers are left surfing the network channels only to have nothing to choose from except the predictable reality shows (crap) and same-old same-old forensic, law and hospital dramas. Really, you’d think by now network execs would get that offering something a little different is ultimately good for all.
Nothing to look forward to this winter network season — guess it’s Netflix for me.
Bring back The Unit. This is a great show.
I can’t believe The Unit was cancelled! I’ve been looking for the new season to start in my TV schedule & finally began to suspect the worst when we got to October and it still hadn’t debuted. It may have been a little more expensive to produce than all of the reality TV drivel that’s on these days, but it certainly added a dose of prestige to the CBS brand.
The Unit should have been continued and should have been moved back the time slot after NCIS. These two shows were a good combination. Instead, I have to find something else to watch after NCIS since the copycat LA version of NCIS is equivalent to suffering through CSI Miami.
The “Unit” was the best show on TV.
Maybe The Unit should go over to FX and run with Sons of Anarchy or Rescue Me!!!! They seem to have their stuff together!!!! Those two shows are great…..why not make it 3!!!!!!!!!
Why would they ever consider cancelling THE UNIT!!!!!!!!! This was a great show that details the stuff that the average American doesn’t want to think about. These guys pay tribute to the men and women that do this kind of stuff everyday to keep this nation safe and free. I think someone at CBS needs to think about this further and put the show back into the line up! I have to agree with a lot of the items I have read about the dislike for reality tv and we keep seeing that crap!!! What are we on now Survivor… Read more »
what the **** I hate CBS NOW
what the hell u need to bring this show back my husbands over seas and he loves this show u need to think bout the soldiers who watch this show its all they have to remind them of what they do when there home so fix it and bring it back
I concure with the others in the fact of being in shock at the fact that the Unit has been canceled. Seems that when we get a good show that is popular the network cries about not making enough money and canceles the show. Funny how those same shows seem to run forever on other networks that pick them up ! The networks will put some CRAP on (that may last a season) in place of a long lasting show? dosen’t make much since to me but I guess thats what makes it good that we don’t have to continue… Read more »
The Unit is the only show I watch on TV, everything else I wait for the DVD’s to come out or I stream online. I know the show is fictional, but somehow it made me feel like I was watching something that had some resemblance of meaning. Reality TV and sitcoms? That’s my alternative? Medium? REALLY?
I can’t believe you have killed yet another good show. You really need to bring the unit back. This is a show that my husband and I both loved and actually spent time watching together. BRING IT BACK!!!!!!
I was not aware The Unit had been canceled. The last show certainly did not indicate that. I have been a fan of this show from day one and it was by far my favorite show. How can the network justify leaving all the useless comedy shows on any and all network and continually dismiss & or remove shows like The Unit? Your actions an well as those of other network forces viewers like myself to seek other avenues of entertainment up to and including turning off our television sets. I’ve never been a fan of comedy and can only… Read more »
Another show with some substance and thought provoking story lines gone while all too much of the senseless, mind-rotting shows, if I may dignify them as “shows”, remain. Another reason for me to watch even less TV and engage myself in other activities.
Bring The Unit back for a final season don’t leave us hanging like this. This was the only show i really watched. Hope someone from CBS gets their heads out of their ASS.