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 Tace is one of the bet shows. I watch it religiously…along with Coldcase too. Won’t have to watch this channel if these shows aren’t on.
Jack,Sam, Danny,Vivian, Martin,
Where are you?
Why?
You will be missed. CBS screwed up moving this fantastic show to tuesday night
What did you think would happen to the ratings going up against SVU?
Setting up for failure..
If you buy good shoes they last longer, get it!!!!
Angry at CBS
Without a Trace has been one of my favs for years. I will truly miss it. Shame on you Channel 2!
WITH OUT A TRACE WAS ONE OF YOUR BEST SERIES!!1I CAN,T BELIEVE YOU WOULD DROP IT WITHOUT A “CLOSER”TYPE SHOW!!! SHAME ON YOU
ROSE
I cannot believe you cancelled Without A Trace and are probably going to cancel Cold Case. They are two of my favorite shows in the top 10. Cheaper does not always mean better. I was a faithful viewer of these two shows whenever they were on. I agree with a lot of the previous comments, I might not watch CBS at all any more. Please reconsider keeping these two shows on. I don’t know how you get your ratings but my vote would be to keep both shows on the air.
I am so disappointed to see no without a trace. Great show, good run, will be missed.
my husband and i also loved without a trace. i cannot believe a quality show like this has been cancelled. i will really miss it!
i’ve watched for years -i’ll really miss it. i hate “reality” tv – and there isn’t much else anymore. netflicks, here i come.
Without a Trace was mine and my husbands favorite show and couldn’t believe it when we were looking to see when the season premire would be only to find out that it has been cancelled……..I’m sure you have other shows that could’ve went like Harpers Island and There goes the Neighborhood just to name a couple.
I’m defintely switching to FOX………….RIP Without a Trace. *sob* 🙁
I loved without a trace it was my favorite show. DONT GET RID OF IT!!!!!!!!!!!
CBS, you’re programing people need their heads examined – not doubt about it. You take off the good shows and leave those stupid reality shows on that are so phony it’s not funny. All you’re interested in is the T & A shows and not the good clean shows like Without a Trace and Cold Case. I suspect the later will be canceled next season or in mid-season. It’s time the top brass listens to the general public not the ratings. I agree with the person above who says he’ll not watch CBS anymore. I am truly thinking in the… Read more »
CBS sucks! I won’t watch their network anymore because they tend to cancel good shows without a chance like Jericho and Moonlight.
How could you cancel my favorite show???? I loved the characters and the stories. Just enough personal information about the characters to keep it interesting. I’m very upset. Please rethink your decision.
I agree with Cindy, I was just looking up the date for the Without A Trace Season Premier when I found out it was cancelled. Is CBS Crazy? That was one show I DID NOT miss. 🙁
I am so disappointed in CBS. There are so FEW shows on now worth watching and Without A Trace was one of them. Continuity should mean more than cheaper to produce, because those cheaper shows won’t last!!!!!!!!!! Obviously fan base means nothing to networks.