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 DO YOU CONSIDER OLD. PERHAPS YOU SHOULD SURVEY THE OLD CROWD,SINCE WE ARE THE ONE PAYING FOR TV.
I THINK YOU SHOULD PUT WITHOUT A TRACE BACK ON THE AIR,AND TAKE OFF GARY UNMARRIED AND THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE. I AM LIKE SOME OF THE OTHERS WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER OLD.
I think that SUCKS!,if any show was going to get the axe it should have been COLD CASE,never watched it,never liked it either,i was really lookng forward to this up coming season too,we got no warning at all,the storylines were taking shape to,with Jack and Samatha,and Sam’s baby daddy,and the relationship between Danny and Delgado,they just left us hanging….SHAME ON CBS
I am very disappointed that they would have to cut one of those shows. I like both of them very much. It seems stupid to cancel either show when they are both so popular, cost or no cost. Very bad move. Those two shows are the only reason I watch CBS
I have been too upset to say anything untill now, while I am watching Cold case, If You had asked me I would have preferred Without a trace, But I am not half as upset as I was when CB S cancelled, Shark, which was the very best because it was so different from the shows that are duplicated over and over and over again with only the name changed, I don’t understand this thing about not attracting the youth, TYoung people are out partying . The last thing they would do would be to watch a television program that… Read more »
Im so upset that without a trace is cancelled,I’ve been waiting for it to come back on.i wish CBS had given us some kind of warning about it being axed.I dont think it was for the old.Im 26 and watched it every week,they need to bring it back!
I’m sooooo upset. Had no idea it was cancelled either. Have been waiting for it to start, figured it was going to be late fall or winter. What a disappointment.
That is a shame! I am so upset about without a trace. That was a damn good show. Tragic!
To bad the station gave us no warning. I’ve been waiting all month for a new season.I used to watch cold case as well as without a trace, I totally liked without a trace better, I have’nt watched cold case this season, and won’t… but would have watched without a trace. By the way, what is old, I’m 40, do you need to be 25 for your shows to rate.
My husband and I always looked forward to watching Withou a Trace. The acting is superb on the show. We had been looking for a season premier with anticipation. I am so sorry that CBS cancelled it. Now I have to tell my husband the sad news and he will be as disappointed as me.
I really enjoyed Without a Trace. It was one of my favorites.
The last writer gave me a good idea: How about an exchange program between NBC and CBS. CBS saved Medium, a good show, now maybe NBC could save Without A Trace, and Life and maybe in the near furture Cold Case. Maybe CBS could become known for cheap predictable dramas and cheap reality shows.
I I , agree that your cancelling of With Out A Trace was one of CBS’s biggest mistakes, Along with putting on that STUPID very predictable Three Rivers, CBS should really consider bringing without a trace back, after all they did give Medium(which I love) but you gave it a second chance, why can’t you do the same for without a trace.
DEAR DECISION MAKERS AT CBS,
WITHOUT A TRACE IS ONE OF THE MOST WONDERFUL SHOWS YOU HAVE DESPITE THE COST. YOU ARE TRULY MAKING A BAD CALL FOR THE ALMIGHTY $$$. I’LL BE LOOKING ELSEWHERE FOR GOOD DRAMA LIKE TNT. MAYBE THEY COULD PICK-UP THE SHOW SINCE TNT IS A CHANNEL TO TAKE NOTICE OF THESE DAYS. YOUR LOSS AND MY LOSS CBS.
I agree that you have cancceled a good program and leave some of the shows that should not be on at all CBS has lowered their standards. This was one of my favorite programs and nver failed to watch it. Didn’t like it when you moved the time from thursday night. You keep Katie on the news at night and don’t watch your news any longer. I don’t like her at all never did. Your Station is so liberal and so is she you have only one sided news on, too bad, SHAME ON YOU There isn’t much I watch… Read more »