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.
Too bad a quality show gets sacraficed on the alter of money. This country is being ruined by two major groups. The attorneys and the accountants. Profit driven maybe the name of their game. But watching quality shows like the Unit is the name of my game. Other than Burn Notice and Leverage, and NCIS, 24, and a few others, there is not much entertainment value on TV. I am tired of forensic, girl shows, like sex in the city, is it different from sex in the country. Sex is sex, like credit, some get it and some don’t. Most… Read more »
Who are the idiots running CBS? They cancel a show like the Unit and leave on the stupid reality shows. Yes, I am certain that the unit is more expensive to make… but without it CBS is just another cheap TV station has-been. The Unit was well written, well acted and well done. Without quality shows like The Unit, CBS will be another company that Obama has to bail out. Hopefully a forward thinking and quality TV station will pick up The Unit and fast!
This is by Far the biggest disapointment for primetime television. This show was amazing. Being a soldier my self i typicly hate military shows but this one was differnt and many other soldiers would agree do they not look at the dvd sales of this series my local px was sold out consistently for 2 weeks i ended up ordering it online it is a vastly popular show i dont know where they get their number i know i have never been asked. it dosent help either that it had such a terriable time slot.. this should have been a… Read more »
Thank god for burn notice and other shows produced by USA, if CBS doesn’t bring this show back I will personally give up on CBS!!
Once again someone sitting in the corner office has decided what the american people wants and needs, GM did that and look where they are. WAKE UP !!!
I am very, very dissappointed to hear of the canncelation of The Unit! I comsidered it one of the best shows on TV. I hope you consider bringing it back. You left ithe show hanging, instead of finishing all the different open plot angels that were going on. Also, if you would stop moving show times and dates around, you might be able to keep more viewers. Please bring The Unit back, we all miss it!!
CBS liberal turds get it wrong again. What a GREAT Show this is? No wonder FOX is kicking CBS’s A*S!!
I am speechless they would cancel one of the only shows I watch.
If Burn Notice goes then I am S.O.L.
Someone made a big mistake on doing this, there’s alot of people that would watch this show.
too few viewers you say? why don’t they advertise this show as much as everything else, maybe they can get more viewers?
As a fellow military person, I beleve that not having a fifth season is a crime. The fact that the air time may have had a hand in the millions needed to help the ratings, I really feel that this show really was right on. If possilble I would like to keep the show going!!!
Sorry to see it go. Mammets tight writing and the acting of all of the principal characters gave this show something that almost all other dramas on TV are missing. Excitment!
RIP
It deeply saddens me that this show is cancelled. I used to watch off those others shows CSI, CSI Miami, and others. Ever since the Unit aired, I watched this show faithfully. The ONLY show that I couldn’t wait to see the next episode. There are many life application that this show has. I have had people hooked on to this show, my mom and fiance. It’s truly sad. To CBS, I hope you will reconsider bring back this show.
I was really upset when it looked like it would be cancelled during season 2 and I am like others. I am tired of the good shows being cancelled but you have 3 different CSI shows and there are at least as many Law & Order shows. Why is it that the good ones go but the ones that are as bad as watching the Congress debate shows on C-SPAN stay? Are all studios ran by idiots? I am also through with CBS cancelling the good ones. I will no longer be watching that station.
Big mistake by CBS to cancel the Unit. It was a show that my 24 year old son and I (51) enjoyed watching together. How many shows have that range of demographics??? Farewell Jonas and friends. Maybe we’ll see you as a feature movie series like Star Trek!
Thanks for the commitment to great writing and great action.
I am sick and tried of CBS cancelling excellent shows. This was my favorite show. Are you going to repalce with another CSI? How many show s do you have to have that are bascially the same. I’m done with CBS. I’m going to cable shows.
Say it isn’t so! I happened upon this bad news in a magazine while my hubby waited to be seen by a doctor. We absolutely loved this show. CSI…boring after a few weeks. Bring it back!!!