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.
One of the best shows on TV and it is cancelled. Shark was another good one. WHY are the good one being cut.
I know they cancel the good shows are they are on USA, and A &E because the local stations have given in to all the stupid reality shows/game shows. I rarely even watch the local shows any longer. Glad I have cable. But if people are stupid enough to keep watching all the reality shows then they will remain on. Myself I think they are pathetic Like Big Brother, Survivor etc. Any of the ones they have to back stab and do whatever to make it , just make the big bucks that sure does teach our children a good… Read more »
I can’t believe that a show like this is cancelled while a show like The Bachelor can remain.
I miss this show so much my family can’t believe it was Cancelled why ??
totally miss this show …It was defiantly one of the best dramas on TV…can’t believe they cancelled the show…
🙁 🙁 loved without a trace!bring it back!
It was the ONLY show I watched on tv I loved it I hope all the seasons come out on dvd’s.
Should not have been canceled. And to just stop producing it was rude. When we are invested in the characters and have something we count on to look forward to.
I am starting to feel like turning the channel since this is not the first time CBS has upset me lately. I want to know I can trust a station to not leave me without an end….
I can not believe you cancelled without a trace that was one of my families favorites.
I really liked Without a Trace and will miss this show. It was definitely one of my favorites.
I really miss Without a Trace. Any chance it will come back?
I an upset to see that this show did get cancelled. Eveytime my husband and I find a show that is worth watching on network tv it ends up getting cancelled becausee of cost or to “try something new”. We loved the characters, stories, everything. This is a big disappointment.
another great show canceled what is up with the networks????
I will miss this show. The show had an interesting team of actors. I do however understand the numbers side of the story. Very unfortunate. I wonder what the missing viewers started watching instead of Without a Trace?
Laura
My husband and I miss Without a Trace! It was one of the better shows on TV!