Call the FBI. There’s another victim of the cancellation axe over at CBS. The network has cancelled long-running crime drama Without a Trace.
First airing in 2002, Without a Trace follows an FBI team that’s tasked with finding missing persons. Each episode follows the search of an individual and tracks the time that they’ve been missing. The series stars Anthony LaPaglia, Poppy Montgomery, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Enrique Murciano, Roselyn Sanchez, and Eric Close.
The series averaged 15.09 million viewers in its first year on the air and grew to a high of 18.68 million for season three. The show’s ratings have declined over the years and season seven has fallen to about 12.2 million. Like many shows on CBS, the drama tends to skew older.
As part of cost-cutting efforts, CBS put Without a Trace and Cold Case on the bubble this time around. Both Jerry Bruckheimer series have become expensive over the years and the network insisted on cuts in salaries and production costs. Both have had an upsurge in the ratings lately but CBS was leaning towards renewing Cold Case.
And then, Cold Case was renewed for season seven at the beginning of this week. As of Sunday, it was looking possible that Without a Trace could still return for a midseason run but the network has now decided against it. Costs and an abundance of new and cheaper shows are contributing factors.
Coincidentally, the series finale of Without a Trace airs tonight. The episode is called “Undertow” and revolves around a man who disappears after a late night dive. Oscar winner Martin Landau (Mission Impossible) guest stars as the father of Jack (LaPaglia) and Danny (Murciano) and Elena (Sanchez) take their relationship to another level.
Image courtesy CBS.
What is wrong with CBS!!! Without a Trace is defintely one of the best COP shows on TV. It’s interesting, and based on real life possibilities. I thought the show was educational. Must the bottom line always be just about money?..Can’t you people afford to keep a quality show on TV.
I was looking for the date for the new episodes of Without a Trace, The Eleventh Hour, and The Unit when I found out that all of these shows had been cancelled. All three of these were my favorite shows and I can’t believe that CBS cancelled them. This is a bad decision on the part of the network. I think that the network would do well to listen to their viewers, who may become former viewers if they continue to cancel shows that so many people are interested in. I guess I will look toward the other networks for… Read more »
I Cannot believe you cancelled one of my favorite shows.i have been wondering what was going on.cbs you have left a bad taste in a lot of your viewers.there are alot of people out there that cannot go out anymore.for alot of people tv is all we can do.now your taking that away too.i am completely disgusted with all big corporations.none of you give a crap about anyone but your damn money.your just like everyone else.good luck to you
You SUCK CBS. I just heard that Without A Trace was cancelled and I can’t believe it. That was my favorite show and I’ve been watching it since it started. Why don’t you take a hard look at some of the stupid shows you have on. I really can’t believe it … I am so disappointed…. YOU SUCK! p.s. I also am a big fan of COLD CASE. Can’t believe you might cancel that too. What is wrong with you or the people who make these decisions. Most new shows that come on are really stupid. I hope all your… Read more »
Of all the other series lacking any interest to the viewers, you guys went ahead and cancelled THE BEST SHOW! Please do yourselves a favor as well as the viewers of your station, and bring back WITHOUT A TRACE. By the way, you guys should’ve cancelled NUMB3RS & Cold Case. ( No offense to the fans, but majority of my fellow CBS fans agree with me on this)
I can NOT believe that CBS choses to put another lame a$$ year of Survior on and cancel a great show like Without a Trace! Does anyone really care about watching fat ugly people wither away to nothing while back stabbing, lying, and sleeping in mud huts for a million bucks they will waste awy. Without a trace was a great, feel good, drama. CBS SUCKS!!!
Do you think that all of your TV audience is young. For heaven sakes there are more people mid age and later watching tv than younger ones. The younger ones are not even home. They’r out running around and getting their entertainment elsewhere.
Bring back Without A Trace and DON”T cancel Cold Case. NO MORE sitcoms.
LAS VeGAS was also a bad decison to cancel> What is wrong with you people.
I am very upset that you have cancelled this searies. I really love it and never miss it. Why did you do this? Please consider bringing it back again. I am sure there are a LOT of people who feel the same way.
Well, CBS must think their own programs STINK, and not as good as the other stations because they keep cancelling the good ones like Without a trace and The Unit! WE DON’T WANT ANY MORE STUPID SITCOMS, AND COMEDIES- BY THE WAY, LENO STINKS! Guess thats why I watch Fox & Fox News
I am absolutely outdone that you have canceled Without a Trace!!!! Numbers, which is pure garbage, is what should have been canceled!!! Without a Trace’s cast had great chemistry and terrific story lines. If you wanted the ratings to improve, then maybe you should not have kept moving it around.
You have truly made a mistake by canceling Without a Trace. You need to bring it back with the same cast.
Absolutely gutted Without a Trace has been cut. Iam a faithful British fan, and it seems I am watching the last ever season. is there any chance that this show can be saved.
You get what you pay for. Cheap shows will cause ratings to drop more quickly.
Please reconsider.
Last to know. Hey, I also went on a seach to find out when the show was going to premiere and I am surprised to find out it has been cancelled. Do you really think Numbers is that great? Welcome to snoozeville!
I am so sad to learn of the cancellation of Without a Trace. Next to The Closer, it was the best show on television. Please reconsider!
Shame Shame Shame on you CBS for cancelling a great show like Without a Trace! What’s wrong with you!! It has many loyal viewers yet you decide to cancel even though you know it will make us unhappy & mad! Do the right thing & bring it back before it’s too late! That’s the right thing to do!!! Cheaper is never better!
I agree with what others have said…..What a big mistake to take such a great show off the air. I look forward to watching very few shows and Without a Trace was one of my favorites. I dont think cheaper is always better. What a shame CBS has lost so many viewers due to this bad decision.