Stop me if you’ve heard this one before (twice, actually), but….
S.W.A.T. has been cancelled at CBS, TVLine has learned.
The news comes ahead of this season’s 14th episode (of 22), airing Friday at 10/9c, and in the wake of CBS also pulling the plug on both FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International, earlier this week.
TVLine’s oft-imitated, never replicated Renewal/Cancellation Scorecard has thusly been updated. At CBS, that leaves The Equalizer, The Neighborhood, Poppa’s House and the recently launched Watson all still sitting on the proverbial bubble, awaiting renew/cancel decisions.
“It’s heartbreaking news,” says showrunner Andrew Dettman, “primarily because it’s been such an immense pleasure working with this cast and crew to put out a show that we’ve always been proud of. They are truly an extraordinary group of people who have all worked so hard and have been so dedicated for all these eight seasons, overcoming countless challenges. I can’t give them enough credit. I feel so privileged to have been a part of the S.W.A.T. family.”
Adds executive producer Shawn Ryan: “It’s been an extraordinary privilege to work on S.W.A.T. for eight seasons and tell the stories of Hondo and 20-Squad. I thank our fans, Shemar Moore, the rest of our cast, our producers, Sony Pictures Television, CBS Studios and CBS for the opportunity. Most of all I want to thank our tireless, dedicated crew who made our writers, directors and cast always look good. My greatest concern right now is for them.”
This is where I remind you that CBS initially cancelled S.W.A.T. after six seasons, back in May 2023 — but less than 72 hours later, the network reversed its decision and renewed the procedural for a seventh, (ahem) final season.
Come April 2024, the Eye blinked again, renewing S.W.A.T. for Season 8 midway through what was previously intended as a 13-episode farewell run.
S.W.A.T. this season is averaging 4.9 million total viewers (with Live+7 delayed playback), down some 20% from its Season 7 audience. Out of the 14 dramas that CBS has aired this TV season, it ranks… well, last in total audience.
Notably, S.W.A.T.‘s Season 8 viewership has been down about 22% since it got moved from the Friday lead-off spot to the 10 pm hour previously (and for a long, long time) held by Blue Bloods.
