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.
YOU CANCELLED WITHOUT A TRACE?!?!?!?!?!?!?! A long time fan of WAT, CBS has just lost one of their best customers. Other than CSI: Miami, I no longer plan to watch any shows on CBS. All fans of Without a Trace, join me in our quest to bring WAT back, no matter what. And to CBS, Kathy Davis is right. If you think those stupid tv shows will keep you going, you’re wrong. I hope you end up in the drain. And once CSI: Miami is gone, I might as well delete CBS from my TV Guide.
I cannot believe that you have taken Without a Trace off the air. I watched this show because of Eric Close. You cancelled the show The Magnificent Seven the best and only western on television. I love westerns. Without a Trace was the only show that had true facts and not made up ones. You cancel without A Trace and leave on Big Bang Theory, New Adventure of Old Christine, and other 30 minutes discussing shows. This will down my shows on CBS this fall. CBS was my number one network that I watched, but not anymore. Now see how… Read more »
please reconsider, love the show and cast,
You have got to be kidding! Another adult show cancelled. Why keep those ridiculous reality shows that the brainless kids watch, and take away WAT?
Adults watch commercials and buy the products associated with adult TV.
Do you honestly think the reality junk is watched much by adults. Thank goodness
for Sports, Movie channels, and DVD players. First you lost cast of CSI, now you cancel to save another buck. Hope it comes back to haunt you.
Please, please reconsider. Although we may be a little less vocal than the tweenies, there are still adults watching television and this is the best drama going. What will we do without the bitter wittiness of Jack Malone, the bruised sensitivity of Samantha, the wisdom and integrity of Vivian, the passionate and street-smart Danny? These are some of the more beautifully fleshed-out characters in any show that I’ve seen, short of heavy cable dramas like “The Wire.” Smart writing, realistic dialogue, angst, humor, and mystery…aren’t these enough reasons to give us at least another season of W.A.T.? And if it… Read more »
Please, please do not cancel Without A Trace. If you do, I will never watch anything, ever, on CBS.
CBS This has to be your biggest mistake. W.A.T. is by far the best show on TV.My family love it. I have never missed an episode,and even watch the reruns.Please reconsider this bad idea.
NAAAAH, too bad!!! At least give us a couple of episodes with a decent ending, the one we’re all been waiting for. 🙂
i love this show……i cant live without it im serious!
they cant cancel this show. god cancle cold case n renew without a trace. all the actors r soo hot n good in this show.
the only reason it dropped down to 12.2 is bacuse noone watches tv anymore……its all online n its faster n better w.out commercial breaks.
if ppl miss it they think oh well its online ill watch then. i do that sometimes. its not the shows fault…..god cbs u ******* suck ass.
get WITHOUT A TRACE BACK!!
I’m not that happy about WaT’s cancellation. not happy doesn’t really cover it but I can’t really think of the right words to say how I feel about it. The only thing I can say is I now no longer have a reason to watch CBS anymore. The only reason I watched CBS was for WITHOUT A TRACE (and my mother feels the same way)
I am so bummed! I really loved this show. All the good shows are being cancelled and it is not right. I will really miss this show! I have seen every episode.
It seems that the big 3 networks have become increasingly desperate to keep viewers, but their tactics may very well backfire…
i love without a trace….. can’t believe they are taking it off the air! they should at least give a better ending! they can’t leave it like this what a disappointment. maybe i should start watching another channel!
I love Cold Case and Without a Trace. Cancelling something because it costs too much? You get what you pay for and most tv shows now are not worth much. I also love Medium so I am happy CBS, my favorite network for dramas has picked it up. But shame on them for casting Without a Trace to the wayside. I agree with Teri get rid of these moronic reality shows. They are probably cheaper but they are total stupid. I will go back to HGTV and the computer for my entertainment.
I THINK THEY SHOULD CHANGE THE TIME SLOT FOR WIHOUT A TRACE. IT’S ON AS THE SAME TIME AS LAW AND ORDER SVU. THAT’S ANOTHER ONE OF MY FAVORITE SHOWS. BUT I DO LOVE WITHOUT A TRACE SO I ALWAYS CATCH THE RERUNS UNTIL THE FALL SHOWS START. GIVE IT A CHNCE!!