Despite an outcry from fans, CBS did not grant Blue Bloods the favorable treatment S.W.A.T. received. TV Insider reported a fan campaign to save Blue Bloods that kicked off as the procedural neared its end in season 14. Still, it became increasingly clear that the network had no intention of reversing their disappointing decision. Between CBS’ treatment of Selleck’s procedural and the NCIS: Hawai’i spinoff that CBS canceled after season 3, some fans began to lose faith in the network as it seemingly refused to listen to what its viewers wanted, despite other factors being at play.
Blue Bloods’ Ratings Ranked Higher Than SWAT’s
Blue Bloods’ Ratings Overpower SWAT’s
A Variety report about the season’s most-watched TV shows made CBS’ cancelation choices all the more bizarre: Blue Bloods was the ninth-most-watched network television show overall in the first half of the TV season. S.W.A.T. paled in comparison, coming in at 29 out of the 100 most-watched programs. The results proved that the network ignored the viewership numbers that followed the Reagan family gathering around the dinner table. With Blue Bloods rounding out season 14 and Moore’s series partly through season 8, S.W.A.T. has half its predecessor’s lifetime, yet it took priority.
Blue Bloods was CBS’ sixth-most-popular TV show and fourth-most-popular drama. Meanwhile, S.W.A.T. ranked 16 out of the 20 CBS shows listed.
Another report from TV Line confirmed that Blue Bloods is more popular than what’s coming. The report gave numbers for the total audience of each CBS series over a weekly period. After network frontrunners like Tracker and Matlock, Blue Bloods was CBS’ sixth-most-popular TV show and fourth-most-popular drama. Meanwhile, S.W.A.T. ranked 16 out of the 20 CBS shows listed, bolstering fans’ claims that CBS could have benefited from reconsidering its Blue Bloods cancelation. The Reagan procedural trumped its successor, so doubt that viewers would tune in didn’t factor into CBS’ decision to cancel Blue Bloods.
Why Blue Bloods Deserves To Be Saved (But It Likely Won’t)
Blue Bloods Has The Favor Needed To Succeed
Blue Bloods deserves to be saved because its viewers and cast members aren’t ready to say goodbye yet. Moreover, the numbers prove that the Reagan family’s audience wants the show to continue. However, rather than following the millions of viewers tuning into Blue Bloods season 14, CBS reportedly followed other numbers regarding Blue Bloods‘ cancelation. The show’s termination came down to budget cuts and salary negotiations, with the salaries to employ the Reagan family far surpassing what it takes to produce a newer series. Therefore, Blue Bloods‘ best asset could be blamed for CBS’ cancelation.
While most long-running shows have significant turnover, especially when an ensemble cast is involved, Blue Bloods has maintained its core cast throughout its run. That said, Blue Bloods‘ complete ensemble remaining intact proved expensive. Actors typically get pay raises each year that a network TV show progresses. That said, having a majority of its cast members intact only made the cop show less affordable to produce. While all the Reagan family members signing on every year contributed to the show’s family atmosphere and its lasting status, it would ultimately lead to the end of the series.
Of course, none of this is S.W.A.T.‘s fault. The CBS series has a passionate base that wants to see its favorite characters continue. Sadly, in the case of Blue Bloods, fans have to say goodbye to characters who have comforted them for 14 seasons. While it’s sad to bring the current era to a close for many, there’s still hope that the Reagan family will reunite in a Blue Bloods spinoff spawned from the season 14 finale. Still, a Blue Bloods spinoff could do little to quell the woes of fans who feel CBS has not heard their case.
