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 bring back THE UNIT, its an awesome series and 10 times better than any series u have currently. R u all idiots?????????????????? May god help u……
BRING THE UNIT BACK…stop with all the stupid shows CBS !! and I hate law and order!
Right, who watches law and order anyway, cuz I dont nor does anyone I know… Bring back The Unit. I really enjoyed that show, snake doc, cool breeze, dirt diver and betty blue make a sweet team and the show really kept you on your toes. Bring it back and I’ll be watching, I promise.
THE PRODUCERS OF “THE UNIT’ SHOULD CONSIDER, IN THIS CASE, MORE THAN THE “BOTTOM LINE” IN THE PROGRAM’S IMPORANTNESS TO ALL THE MILLIONS OF AMERICAN VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES, ALL FANS, ETC. MY WIFE AND I JUST ATENDED THE FREE VET’S APPRECIATION DINNERS AT THE GOLDEN CORRAL RESTAURANTS NATIONAL CHAIN, AND OTHERS ALSO TO SEE THE PATRIOTIC OWNERS SERVE OVERWHELMINGS CROWDS OF VETS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THEY DID NOT WORRY ABOUT THE “BOTTOM LINE” !!! THE IMPORTANCE OF TELLING AND SHOWING OUR SPECIAL FORCES PERSONAL SACRIFICES IN DEFENSE OF AMERICA’S CONTINUING EXISTENCE IS BEYOND CALCULATION!!! LONG LIVE AMERICA!!!
So, another show worth watching, bites the dust. Why is it when a show comes too close to reality you idiots have to cancell it? What are you going to replace it with, some more “reality” shows? Between the shows that somehow stay on, and the level of intelligence shown in the commercials occupying half the time, I’m beginning to think your organization is run by a bunch of politicians.
Please bring the Unit back. The writers are the best in the industry and the show was done in such good taste. Everything seemed so real. We watch the Unit as a group of friends and is feel so connected to everyone on the show. There are so many of us needing to understand the truth and the Unit puts it so well. It’s not that we need the Unit to come back just for enjoyment, but also for better understanding. Please bring back our favorite show.
My boyfriend and I watch this serie together, and it is actually the only serie we watch together because this is something we both like a lot!
We just do not like the end, we need more unit!
I hope you guys will start making the fifth season quickly.
Greetings from Holland
I find military stories fascinating. I believe that the level of production, action, and writing, of The Unit is a tribute to our soldiers. The Unit is the pinnacle of the military story. I got goose bumps every time I watched it. I still watch in syndication and on the web. Very sorry that it had to end. Support out troops!!
The unit is one of the best series!
It’s crazy that they pulled the plug… WHY?! Idiots!
My girlfriend likes it a lot, and I am an addict!
🙁
From Holland, with tears.
You need to bring The Unit back! I can not stop thinking about what happens after the last episode!!! CBS, think of the revenue that would be generated if the show were to be back on air.
My best thoughts,
Thanks
Bring back the unti! My husband and I love it, and we watch it every night! It’s probably one of the best T.V. shows out there! Please dont take it away!
Please bring The Unit back. This show is terrific! I love the show and lived for my Wednesday nights to see the double episodes. There’s little or nothing on TV these days. Bring The Unit back please.
The Unit was the next best thing that happened after Jack Bauer decided to leave us. this one is better than Army Wives and second only to 24. so pleas egive us a reason to watch TV again. so do us a major favour and get snake doc, cool breeze, betty blue, dark diver and dog patch 06 back on our screens.
Nicely put!
Yeah, I agree.
And it’s DIRT diver 😉
Please bring the Unit Back!!! I can’t beleive that it is cancelled. I truly love watching the espiodes. the last show I saw was Jonas wife leaving with her suitcase. I am crushed that the show is over. Please! please! bring it back. Many fans watch the unit.
Thanks you.
Bernice
We love the unit t is a really cool show my boyfriend and I like wait for Wed. nites anxiously or record it if we are going to be out shame one of our bonding time slot ruined Hey CBS U SUCK!!!
what a sad shame … I felt very frustrated to say the least when turning the tube on to see the Unit and instead got the senseless nauseating version of a “show” instead …. was this some sort of political power pressure move to suddenly drop a series so vividly intelligent, informative and a realistic portrayal about the realities of military life ?????????? I consider this a form of censorship that unfortunately is just one more thing that the American public who pay dearly just to have available TV has to endure .. another reason why the freedom of “cable”… Read more »