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?
VEGAS is a Keeper!
We love this show. It’s different, interesting and actually has a plot to it. AND IT’S NOT A REALITY SHOW!! We absolutely refuse to watch any of them; never have, never will.
We love Vegas. We are old enough to remember the old days of Las Vegas. It’s very interesting knowing the show is based on the real life of Sheriff Ralph Lamb and his family. Thank you for moving it to Friday night with an earlier time slot..now we have Vegas and Blue Bloods!! Give it a chance!
I love Vegas. I DVR it. Keep the show!!!!!!
The show is really fun to watch and I hope CBS doesn’t cancel it.
Vegas is one of a very few shows we watch. It has a great cast; good story line(not drivel like some shows). Everyone we talk to really likes the show as well. If it is dropped we soon won’t watch CBS.
Maybe our hope is if dropped that Netflix or Hulu will,pick it up.
Hope CBS is smart enough to renew this 1960’s era show. If it doesn’t, hopefully AMC will pick it up as a complement to Mad Men.
C’mon producers, don’t let this great show “die”!
CBS should renew Vegas for a second season. Some of the best shows of all time such as MASH and the Mary Tyler Moore Show had shaky ratings during their first seasons. Please give Vegas one more chance!!
Great show for network TV. I watch cable on a regular basis since they have the best series but Vegas is a winner. If CBS cancels cable should pick up
I love Vegas. It is so different from everything else. My 14 yr old was even watching it.
We love Vegas! T he cast is great! Please keep the show.
I like Vegas. Please don’t cancel it.
Get Tommy lee jones to play the sheriff. For sue hit series for several years.
Yes, by all means keep VEGAS on the CBS schedule. Keep on Tuesdays usual time slot. Inject mystery along with more suspense and have Ralph and Sorvino face a new rival together for their survival as a good and bad guy. It’s going to be close.
Gr8 show!!!! Keep it. Tell the advertisers that there are a billion boomers so they should consider ALL the population that watches the show, including 16 & 17 year olds. It will develop a following if you give it a chance. I vote KEEP!