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?
where did get the ratings you did not call and ask my openion. one of the best shows on CBS.
So disappointed Vegas was cancelled. I looked forward to the second season, thinking maybe the day or time slot had changed was the reason I could not find one of my favorite shows. Unfortunately the show was cancelled. The show deserves another chance .The show had great actors and storylines. Please bring it back!
I don’t understand why you cancelled Vegas. There is nothing on Tuesday nights except PBS. All the stations have on is stupid reality T.V. not into that.
Loved Vegas’ story line and going back in time to the early 60s. As usual the network never gave it a chance. Something else was always taking it’s time slot.
The 2013 fall season sucks.
Bring back Vegas.
I can’t understand why you cancelled Vegas. You are to blame. You put in Unforgettable and wonder why it got better ratings. Maybe if you had left Vegas in that time slot it would have done better. I would check to see when the show would be on and you would never know. No wonder it was not a success.
Did you bother to ck with the viewers? Bring VEGAS BACK! There are too few decent, good shows on unless you like reality shows————they are on every channel & in every timeslot. Please give us a good show to enjoy.
Please bring back Vegas! Me and my husband loved every episode….
Vegas is the best! I love, love, love seeing Dennis Quaid and Michael Chiclis on t.v. every week. The cast is amazing and sexy and the characters have many layers. Story plots are intelligent and I love the history of Vegas. Finally, a show with some chops!
What are they possibly thinking????? Surely they aren’t seriously considering cancelling Vegas. If that is true, what’s next NCIS…
WHAT???????? Why would they cancel one of the best shows on TV????? PLEASE bring it back!!!! There are very few programs my husband & I watch together and Vegas was one of them!!!!!!
I am disappointed to find out the show had been cancelled. My husband and I loved to watch this show. I do hope CBS will bring it back, too many shows are now just half hour comedies. We are in our late 50’s and early 60’s, enjoyed the drama/action that Vegas show had. CBS – you need to bring this show back!
We are older, and we are sick of the 30 minutes comedies. We love Vegas, I hope they bring it back. Why can’t NBC take it. I hear lot of people say, it is good. Please put it back on. Thanks
Please, please bring Vegas. I was so looking forward to the new season. It is one of the few really entertaining shows and I do not understand why more people have not caught on to it. It deserves another chance.
I LOVE, LOVE the show Vegas. Dennis Quaid is perfect as Sheriff Lamb, his brother is a hunk of perfect, his son is a cutie pie. Of course, Michael Chiclis is perfect as a menacing mobster — the sort who started Vegas decades ago. I love the drama & the relevant stories; but, the history part of the storyline is engrossing. A couple of failures I noted is that Carrie Ann Moss is just not relatable as the love interest of Sheriff Lamb — casting should have been for a much sexier woman. Ms. Moss has very hard , angular… Read more »
Vegas was one of our favorites. We are older and like this kind of show. We just got into it and you cancelled it. We had no idea when it was on and very disappointed in CBS for cancelling such a good series. Shame on you.
Finally a reason to watch abc, Waiting for return, And then Cancellation??? Who the heck is running this station?? Something worth watching, then it gets dumped…. Hope one of the real stations pick it up…….
My husband and I truly love the showVEGAS – it’s the best along with Blue Bloods!
We are disappointed to see it missing from the fall line up!!!! Bring it back, please!!!!
Please bring back Vegas! I am very disappointed the show was cancelled. The show has better acting and story line than any of the reality shows. Please bring back Vegas!