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?
LEAVE IT ALONE ! When CBS gets a good SHOW, Some Brainiac, nit-wit wants to ruin it for everone else! Might be the reason cbs’s ratings are so low……..
My husband and I found this show refreshing from all the “fluff” shows on other channels.
We were so proud of CBS for bringing something to the screen that actually made you use your thought processes instead of being bored. The first episodes were a little hard to follow, but once it progressed, we loved it. If you keep it on, maybe others will give it another try. We sincerely hope so.
I can’t believe CBS would get rid of this show.An entertaining ,quality show.
“VEGAS” How about some clips of The old 60’s Nostalgia. Could be a bit of many things
or even a months’ worth various types Entertainment. Just a song, car show, ect.
MANY OF US REALLY LIKE THIS SHOW!.
Respectfully,
Tom Reed
I hope they don’t cancel Vegas. It is so different than most of the shows today. It goes back in time and it keeps me entertained. Give it a chance to gain more audience backing.
“VEGAS” Please leave this show going. I believe it is one of the best you have. It like Gibbs; NCIS is our favorite shows. Many many people watch it. The hour it was on may have been a problem for some . I do do not know for sure. What I do know it is the most liked besides NCIS.
Respectfully
Tom Reed
I love this show!!! Pls renew!!
Leave it alone and renew it for next season! I’part ove the over 50 generation and I’m sick and tired of reality shows, zombies, vampires, so called comedy shows and that piece of CRAP called THE SIMPSONS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bring it back!
Dont cancel Vegas,we love that show!!! We dont like Golden Boy.
Don’t cancel Vegas!!! We love this show. We don’t like Golden Boy.
Please leave the show alone. I love it as well Golden Boy. Along with Vegas, Golden Boy and The Good Wife are the only shows I will not miss and CBS is the only network we ever watch. These three shows have wonderful actors. I hate all the reality shows. These are something worth watching!
Vegas has been the best show on CBS. Great cast of characters and different than the rest of the crud on TV. CBS is obviously going for the wrong demographic. I put it in the category of Soprano’s, Deadwood and Jockey’s…all cancelled and all great shows… everything we watch gets cancelled. Shame, shame if they cancel it.
Leave it alone and renew it for next season! Part of the over 50 generation and I’m sick and tired of werewolf, vampire and zombie shows.
I LOVE the show VEGAS. My mother also loves that show. Please do not cancel an excellent show with wonderful actors and really very good writing!!