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.
Well, I loved this show. It was one of your best. How could you cancel this show and bring back another show. Tragedy!
Really enjoyed WAT on Tuesdays. Sorry its cancelled. Why is it when a show is
worth watching they take is off the air. Guess we’ll be watching Fox News.
I think CBS is making a HUGE mistake!!! Without a Trace was the best series on TV!!!!
I have been watching for the new season of “Without a Trace” and decided to google it. I am really disgusted. The good shows seem to go on the chopping block and then you keep filling in with the stupid shows you call HUMOR–what age group are the TV channels going for?
This is really BAD NEWS. Please reconsider?
Agree with what others have said. How can you keep garbage like Ghost Whisperer and Medium while cancelling WOT. Is this an attempt to dumb down America? Its easily one of the most intelligent shows around. Don’t you want to encourage clever people with a brain to live in America? Give them good TV and bring it back!
I am so very disappointed that this show has been cancelled. Without a Trace was a definite favorite with great story lines and interesting personal situations of all cast members. CBS has really let me down.
I guess cbs will be happier when cheaper means viewers switching networks. i cannot believe this show was canceled when it is one of the best shows this network had!!!! Without a Trace was one of my favorite showes and it is better that the other shows that got to stay!!
CBS just keeps dissapointing me – why cancel such a great show??
I guess cbs will be happier when cheaper means viewers switching networks. i cannot believe this show was canceled when it is one of the best shows this network had. it seems that silly and cheaper has taken the place of great programs. maybe we should all leave and watch the lifetime and other networks and let their ratings speak for us.
U suck
I am so sad this show was cancelled… it was one of the few dramas worth watching these days on TV. Shame on you CBS.
YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!!!! I just went on a search to find out when the premiere episode of Without a Trace would be an I find out it has been CANCELED? I am VERY upset. It was one of my FAVORITE shows. I am EXTREMLY upset. I have never written about a canceled show before, but I just could not help it for this one. This was definitely a keeper. BIG MISTAKE!
Withouth a Trace was the only show I watched on CBS.. Now that it is gone… well… I might as well give up on CBS.
CBS WHAT IS THE WRONG WITH YOU!!!!! You cancelled Without a Trace??? I cannot believe it!!! After reading some of the other comments, I see that I’m not the only one disturbed by your DUMB decision!! This was and is a great show. I even got my mother watching it & it became her favorite show & now she’s bummed like the rest of us. Please PLEASE reconsider & bring it back. This show has many loyal viewers & isn’t that what you want … loyal viewers who’ll stay with CBS & not jump ship to some other network? If… Read more »
Have you people lost your minds…this was the best show!!! Cancel garbage like Ghost Whisperer or what ever its called and bring back a show worth watching.. Do you people watch your own shows???