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.
Without a Trace was my favorite show , some of the other awful shows should be taken off and Without a Trace put back on . I am very disapointed in CBS.
I can’t believe they cancelled Without A Trace. This is my favorite show. Take Cold Case off the air instead.
I have been wondering why Without A Trace hasn’t been on yet this season. Now I’ve read this post and can hardly believe it. CBS has canceled one of the best shows on tv. Please bring it back!
So sad to here you cancelled without a trace. It was an awesome show. Hope you will reconsider and bring it back.
I am so sad to hear that without a trace has been cancelled…..
That is wrong
What??! CBS-surely you didn’t cancel one of the best shows on tv?? PLEASE bring it back!
Without a Trace gets cancelled and the stupid NCIS gets a spin-off!! The show was the best cast and most realistic show of its kind. My equal favourite with CSI NY>
I agree with Donna and Evelyn – reality shows stink. I love all of Jerry Bruckheimer’s shows. I think Without a Trace still had most or all of the originals from 2002. If CBS wants to cut costs – take of the reality shows – not something that matters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope another network will take it over.
I too agree about the reality shows…..what is real about them? Very disappointed that Without a Trace was cancelled. My husband and I both watched and enjoyed it. Without a Trace is more like reality than a lot of other shows on television these days. In fact the area where I come from they are right now searching for two missing girls. You hear these things every day, someone missing and no one has a clue…..anyway, I could go on but like Laura said previously…Bring it Back!
I agree with Donna about your reality shows. What reality, how many of us are stuck in the jungle every day with people that couldn’t be more annoying if they tried??? CBS doesn’t seem to realize that we get involved with, not just the program, but the characters as well. Of course they had to make a place for Medium, since NBC bounced it over to CBS because Leno took the primetime 10:00 spot 5 nights a week. I’ve been po’d at CBS since they cancelled Joan Of Arcadia & replaced it with the no brainer, Ghost Whisperer (stupidest title… Read more »
I love Without a Trace. Bring it back
CBS! I really hate your “REALITY SHOWS”. It is for small minded people with small brains! Knuckle walkers. Without a Trace was so good and you canceled it for ratings. What about the people that were hard core fans?
I loved this show as well. I am very suprised that it was cancelled, and that there wasn’t any notice for the fans! I would much rather Cold Case been cancelled than Without a Trace.
I too h ave been wondering when “Without A Trace” would be returning, as the last show of the previous season gave no indication that it was THE LAST SHOW. I hate this. I loved the show, thought it was well done, very interesting and another kudo for Jerry Bruckheimer. Too bad the network can’t suck it up and put on shows that are intelligent instead of idiot citcoms/non-funny sitcoms and new shows like the “Good Wife” and “Three Rivers” that are trying too hard to be any good. It might have been nice to list the last show, for… Read more »
I have been waiting for Without A Trace to return this year I looked it up today and found out CBS cancelled it….I’m so mad it was one of my favorite shows….It would have been nice to let us know it wouldn’t be returning this year