Amid the CBS Summer Press Tour this week, the subject came up about why the network had cancelled Without A Trace. It wasn't ratings, which is clearly the truth because just this past weekend, Without A Trace was pulling over six million viewers for a rerun, doubling the number of people who tuned in for the brand new ABC series, Defying Gravity. Therefore, if Without A Trace was still capable of besting the fodder produced by the competition, why on earth would CBS dump it?
"Every show has its own life cycle," said CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler, who went on to explain that the shows the network had in development were just too good to wait. In other words, The Good Wife, Three Rivers and NCIS: Los Angeles, none of which are proven hits, were more important than an established success.
Frankly, that's a lot of crap. It's bad business. If Without A Trace still worked -- and it did -- CBS could have put it into the mid-season rotation and waited for the fate of the new hour dramas. This decision was not about the life cycle, either. It was about money. Without A Trace was going to start costing CBS more money because the cast were all going to be re-upping for additional seasons. Rather than pay the fare, CBS let it go.
What doesn't add up to me, though, is why another network didn't pick up the show. NBC has no room for a 10 o'clock show -- thanks, Jay Leno -- but what about ABC or Fox? You think either of those networks wouldn't mind about six million loyal viewers tuning in and perhaps sticking around for more?
By the way, I recently cleared out my DVR and watched the final two episodes of Without A Trace. Tassler is right that the show went out while it was still vibrant and strong. It still seems as though it was too soon. There were a couple of more years left in that series, a couple of more good years.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
8-04-2009 @ 9:26PM
ruth sasser said...
its a shame to lose a good program when there is so much crap on that isnt worth watching. Without a trace is /was one of the good shows. I will miss it.
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8-04-2009 @ 10:11PM
Chris Shifty said...
First this was the show that took down ER and made Thursday nights CBS's night for a few years and then CBS moved the show to a new night for the last three seasons.
If CBS picked up Medium, I don't know why NBC didn't pick up Without A Trace. It would easily be their most watched show. Retool, drop a castmember or two to reduce costs and they've got a solid show.
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8-04-2009 @ 10:34PM
jean frank said...
I think "they" must juggle balls in the air and grab every third one and whatever it says, its the reason behind a shows cancellation. No one is watching, it cost too much, the wrong age is interested, no where to go with the story anymore, its not winning in its slot even if "a eleventy million" do watch.....I don't know if the networks really care about their viewers since even TVland things we "need" reality all the time. I guess I am a humbug afterall.
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8-04-2009 @ 10:49PM
unc69dmo said...
Hey....we all need another LAME Dramedy ....or another UNwatchable Reality show.......
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8-04-2009 @ 11:50PM
CC said...
Without a Trace was good, except for all the relationship stuff between the characters. How many of her coworkers did Sam sleep with? Between her/Martin/Jack, and Elena/Danny, Vivian was the only one who didn't hook up with a coworker.
If they focused on the stories (missing persons), I would have continued watching it. It would have been like the Law & Order franchise on NBC - where you could tune in any given week and be hooked on the story in the episode. In the more recent episodes, they filled the show will too much interpersonal relationships so if you hadn't been tuning in, you'd be lost as to who Sam was sleeping with, what her relationship w/ Jack was, etc. It became like a soap opera.
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8-05-2009 @ 9:26PM
Eludium-Q36 said...
Exactly! And this is how they're killing "House" and "Bones", too, but this is the way it always is...
8-05-2009 @ 12:53AM
Owloo said...
I don't even have those 3 new 1 hours shows in my fall season viewing schedule but Without a Trace would have still been on my to view list
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8-05-2009 @ 10:29AM
Jimmy said...
Without a Trace was produced by Warner Bros. Perhaps if CBS owned the show, and got the syndication revenue, they'd have more of an incentive to keep the show. Without a Trace reruns are on TNT, and CBS gets no money from that, or from DVD sales. Instead, they get an older show with higher costs and therefore less return on ad revenue, even if ad rates rise.
CBS owns all 3 of their new dramas, so if any become a hit, it would be far more valuable for them, as they would get revenues from DVDs and syndication.
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8-05-2009 @ 11:43AM
Vincent J. Murphy said...
Jimmy's got it perfectly correct. It's all about CBS making more money.
8-07-2009 @ 1:39AM
Tracey said...
Loved W.A.T when it came out, loved it when it was cancelled. There will be a gaping hole in my fall schedule!
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8-09-2009 @ 4:54AM
GingerR said...
I've watched WAT since day one. But I'm sorry to say the last couple of seasons have been mediocre at best. It was like they were digging deep for new material for the personal stories. And it was probably best that it got cancelled now than for it to die a slow, lingering death long past its prime.
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8-08-2009 @ 9:30AM
Nancy Bishop said...
After being an NBC watcher for years, I had totally converted to CBS for the past years with CSI, NCSI, CSI New York, Without a Trace etc. Guess I will go somewhere else. I have always waited with anticipation to the new seasons. But not now. Thanks CBS for the memories.
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8-08-2009 @ 12:35PM
blueeyedwolf said...
What's up with CBS???
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8-08-2009 @ 1:51PM
Jo Ann said...
I do not understand why they cancel the shows that are avery popular, i.e, Without a Trace. They leave you hanging, at least they could provide an ending to the series. Think I may not watch TV much anymore, except for History, Discovery, etc. These at least provide learning abilities to their subject. Believe me, I am not the only one that feels this way.
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8-08-2009 @ 1:49PM
Maxine said...
Please, please please bring the show back during mid-season. I looked forward to "Without a Trace" every week and I'm heart broken. What is wrong with CBS --- you don't know if these new shoes will make it or not. The only one my husband and I are interested in is NCIS Los Angeles and that's only because we like NCIS. I agree with blueeyedwolf -- what's up with CBS?
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8-08-2009 @ 2:39PM
Martie Woodad said...
Why is it that GOOD shows are taken off and ROTTEN shows remain? Pretty soon there won't be anything on TV except all the reality shows. A couple of them are good, but not much. Bring back Without A Trace, Bingo, Identity and other good game shows and drama shows. Please us not your pockets. We live on a heck of a lot less than you do, so why don't you try it. Lesson your salary and bring the GOOD shows back.
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8-09-2009 @ 2:17AM
Vegas said...
NCIS LA lol, LL cool j haha, get real people.
The other 2 shows i will not watching either.
Someone needs to pick up the Unit, and Without a trace.
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8-12-2009 @ 12:32PM
Beth said...
I love WAT & will miss it so much! Seems like when they have good shows thay never stay!
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8-17-2009 @ 10:28PM
Debbie Stanley said...
Yeah, it sucks that the show was cancelled. My husband and I watched it all the time, and still watch the reruns. I wonder why a cable network didn't pick it up, like TNT. I'm sure the other networks could've gotten rid of a reality show or two, to make room for "Without a Trace." Come on, networks, let's put the show back on the air!!
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9-16-2009 @ 1:13PM
sandy said...
I am very,very disappointed!!!! I only watch Without A Trace and CSI. Not a good thing to take WAT off the air.
What were you thinking? Put it back!!!!!!!!
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