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.
The Unit was the best show CBS had and to let it go is stupid to say the very lest. BRING THE UNIT BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What the heck were you thinking, your not thats my hole point.
well, where do i start. First, I’m a student 22 years old (well below the 55 average age of viewers) and from Holland. So sorry for the mistakes i will make :p I just bought season 1 en 2 two weeks ago for 70 euro’s. And i LOVE the show!!! It took me one week to see both seasons!! I’m an addict! So i bought season 3 and 4! At this time i am in the middle of season 4 and was searching for season 5…… :@ WHERE IS SEASON 5 :@!!! Cancceled?!?! i dont beleef it!! This is pure… Read more »
I don’t think CBS has good management and if they keep it up they are not going to stay in business. The Unit was bold and exciting, it had actors that were sexy and not in a vulgar way like some of the other shows that CBS seems to keep running. It felt realistic and not out in left field or outerspace. The have got rid of two of their longest running daytime soaps and that shows lack of commitment to their viewers. There is nothing left on CBS that I care to watch and other viewers will follow. Where… Read more »
I wanted to add that I am enjoying a Unit marathon on Sleuth, and I love that they run this program, I watch it every chance I get plus if you have Netflix you can get the shows there and watch them. I just wish that there was new ones to watch, they didn’t promote this show enough. It would seem that a cable channel could have bought it like USA. They said that the average age of the audience was 55, well what is wrong with that? The audience they are targeting do not stay at home and certainly… Read more »
My husband and I loved this show. Who decides to take shows like this off the air??? We are so bummed out. Please bring it back!!!
Completely obsurd! I discovered ‘The Unit’ just a few months ago, and ate up every episode like an addict! It is really sad that the millions of people who grew emotionally interested and attached to this show are now let down…CBS = Complete Bull S***
the people who cancelled the unit need to get their heads checked and bring back the unit
P.s in last comment it’s meant to be “what the hell is wrong with the people of today” not tosay that was a typo
what the hell is wrong with the people of tosay we don’t care how much it costs, the ratings may not have been high but that’s because not ervyone could watch it when it was on, i didn’t always catch the show when it was on, but i watch it on dvd and whenever i can. Bring the unit back and let the people watch what they want to watch, BRING BACK THE UNIT
What in the world is wrong with you? You bring out a show as great as The Unit and I just started watching some re-runs a few months back, not even knowing at the time they were re-runs. Then I discover this show had been on since 06 and was taken off in 09. Please think about the people that watch t.v. and bring this show back.
Well, I was watching my channel 30-02 maybe two months ago and this great, I mean great show came on called The Unit. Every week couldn’t wait to see it again. Looked it up on the internet one day and discovered it had been out since 2006 and a co-worker told me that it had been canceeled. I was just floored. How could you cancel this show?????? Emailed my son and told him about it and he ordered it on Netflix and is wild about it. Please, please bring this show back. My son says it is about the best… Read more »
I bought seasons 1-4, just finished it tonight. Now I’m very disappointed there is no season 5. I sure would’ve like to see how the writers played out and who was going to be the new CO of the unit and if Jonas and Molly were going to get things worked out. THIS FRICKEN SUCKS BIG HOWARD JOHNSON WATERMELLONS!
I agree with Mr. Chapman and Ms. or Mrs. Schwartz the unit was the best show that’s ever been on television in my opinion!!!! Does anyone ever remember the show E ring it was on a few years ago they canceled it a few years ago. It seems whenever they have something good the networks can’t figure it out or don’t understand what they have. Just got done watching the unit today I call it unit Monday I’m pumped up and I want more episodes if possible, I hope Dennis can take this and make it into a movie or… Read more »
This is hands down the best show on TV. My wife and I just discovered it about 6 months ago and have been hooked. Losing this show would be a great disappointment.
That is a great idea, make a motion picture would be awesome. They could either do the show based on what they were going to do in season 5 or come up with a show that goes more in depth with what the unit is doing, that way they could come up with different missions and make more movies. I just couldn’t handle too much gore and if they killed off anymore from the unit I would be fit to be tied. I would like for them to keep the show as it is but just longer for a movie.… Read more »
CBS sucks for cancelling the uni!!! It was the best show on TV. Don’t even think about touching NCIS !!
I don’t understand the networks these days…. every time I find a decent show they cancel them… I’m going to miss The Unit just as I miss JAG but I do still have NCIS maybe they will keep that one….. the local networks are broadcasting to keep them free , they should pay us to watch what is left….. reality shows or talk shows…. what ever happened to verity shows like Carroll Bernette show…..
What the heck was CBS thinking?! Everyone I know in my company watched The Unit. We all loved the things in the show that not an everyday person would understand. Yes…..CBS has forgotten who gives them the opportunity to produce TV shows; unfortunate, but very common these days.
They need to bring this show back . It was one of the few shows left on tv that you had to have an IQ over 2 to understand. Not another stupid reality show. Once they moved it to Friday nights they set it up for failure . One can only hope that someone figures it out sooner rather then later.