Going into the fall season, CBS’ Vegas series was one of the new TV shows with the most buzz. Many people were expecting it to be one of the hits of the season. Has it measured up? Should it be cancelled or renewed for a second season?
Airing on Tuesday nights, Vegas takes place in the Las Vegas of the 1960s and revolves around Sheriff Ralph Lamb (Dennis Quaid), a former rancher, and his clashes with Vincent Savino (Michael Chiklis), a Chicago mobster who moved west to set up his operation. Others in the cast include Carrie-Anne Moss, Taylor Handley, Sarah Jones, and Jason O’Mara.
The show debuted back on September 25th to a 2.5 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 14.85 million total viewers. While the viewership was strong, CBS was likely expecting a much better demo number — especially considering the show’s high-profile talent, positive reviews, and the show having a strong lead-in like NCIS: Los Angeles.
In week two, the ratings dropped 20%, to a 2.0 rating with 12.11 million. In week four, they dropped another 20%, to a 1.6 rating with 10.8 million.
The numbers have remained fairly steady since then and the 15 episodes that have aired thus far have averaged a 1.7 demo rating with 10.9 million viewers.
While that demo might be enough for a show on NBC, it’s not likely good enough for CBS. Right now, Vegas is one of the network’s lowest-rated weekday series in the demographic which advertisers favor. Vegas has a lot of total viewers but so do many other CBS shows.
Last season, Unforgettable occupied the same timeslot and performed better than Vegas — averaging a 2.3 demo rating and 11.3 million viewers. It was cancelled.
The network ended up making a deal with Sony TV to bring Unforgettable back for a short season this summer and both sides likely made some financial concessions to make that happen. Word is that most of the supporting castmembers have been dropped. A deal like that is not likely to happen with Vegas.
Unless the ratings start to climb, it doesn’t look very likely that Vegas will be back for a second season.
On the positive side, the series will be back on March 19th and there are seven new episodes yet to come.
What do you think? Do you think CBS should cancel Vegas to make way for a new show? Or, should they renew Quaid and company for a second season? If you were running the network, would you change anything try to attract higher ratings?
I liked the show in the beginning but it has never come together. It should be good as it has good actors. New writers could tighten up the storyline. The show has 2 major characters and the program should revolve around them. The storyline with the brother and the daughter of the mobster was lame.
Love this show! Are you keeping track of those of us who DVR the show rather than its channel flippers who happen upon it? Our favorite show ! Please just keep them coming!
Love Vegas. We also DVR it every week. Do not cancel!
Please bring this show back. I looked forward to seeing it each week.
Keep it. It is a favorite of my wife and me. We DVR it every week.
I like the show hard to run next to justified especially when theyshare a demographic. If this show was on FX instead of Vanilla CBS it would run for years
I watch this show and really like it. I DVR all my shows the only thing we watch live is the news. You need to take that to account for the low ratings. DVR’s are taking over and there needs to be a way for you to see what we record. Keep the show.
This is a very good show and should not be cancelled! The replacement show you are running in the time slot is not nearly as entertaining! We wonder how you make the determination of the popularity of your shows? We are in the older groups of people watching; many of those who are in our age group like this show and through the years have seen many good shows cancelled for reasons we cannot figure out.
I sure like “Vegas” a lot more than “Golden Boy,” which I’m giving a second chance this minute, mainly because Chi McBride’s in it. Of course “Justified” is better than both of ’em, and in the same time slot
My husband and I enjoy the show and hope too see more.
Love it. Favorite of all three that night
My husband and I haven’t missed an episode of Vegas. Great cast, great plots and terrific suspense. I would deeply regret CBS cancelling this show.
i think VEGAS SHOULD SATY ON THE AIR BEACUSE IT IS VERY DEFIFET TO ANY OTHER SHOW ON TV
Absolutely love Vegas Quiad and Chiklis how can that be bad?
Both Vegas and Blue Bloods are excellent shows with good casting and stimulating plots. Both have a 10pm timeslot which is not the easiest for superb ratings. I think both would do better in the 8pm or 9pm slot on either Wednesday or Friday.
Hope they stay on.