Quantum Leap
NBC dropped the axe on the sci-fi drama starring Raymond Lee and Caitlin Bassett in April after a two-season run. Based on the 1989-93 favorite led by Scott Bakula, Quantum Leap followed Lee’s physicist Ben Song as he bounced around time, inhabiting a new person’s body each week. Season 2 wrapped up in February with a finale that left Ben and Bassett’s Addison both trapped in the past. (Read our finale post mortem for more.)
Leap‘s sophomore run averaged 3.6 million total viewers and a 0.44 demo rating (with Live+7). Out of the 11 original dramas NBC has aired this TV season, it ranked last in audience and No. 9 in the demo (besting only the previously cancelled Magnum P.I. and La Brea).
Following the cancellation, Lee said in a statement: “Just wanted to say a thank you to our QL fans and those who’ve tuned in. Your support was felt and always warmly received. You all have made it the ride of a lifetime.” Bassett added: “So sorry to say… farewell leapers. Thank you so much for every moment of this amazing journey.”
Why is it that shows with strong female leaders do not seem to make the grade to continue as a series most of the time?
Ghosts, Abbot Elementary, Law and Order SVU, FBI, Alert, Cleaning Lady, Elsbeth just to name what I watch. All have top female stars. Stop making issues out of nothing.
It depends on the women and tgeir acting skills. I didnt find Lachey as the right lead for NCIS Hawaii. Maggie Q would have been better.
NCIS Sydney will suffer the same fate unless some changes are made
Suzie is right. Also it’s 3 out 7 (less than 50 percent). Their seasons are longer than the “not female” lead characters and while we are disappointed. Their reasons were very not gender related. Hawaii is a very very very expensive state. Everyone was very surprised when csi was renewed for a third season (and the rating still dropped again from the second season). And not dead yet ranked last in viewership. I don’t see how those reasons were gender related
I couldn’t watch NCIS:Sydney cause I didn’t understand what they were saying. The Aussie accent was too thickk.
I agree with you 100% Linda. I couldn’t wait for it to come on and I watched the first episode and the accents were so heavy you couldn’t understand anything they were saying so needless to say I didn’t watch a second episode and I wasn’t going to turn on the closed caption because I can’t read what it says and watch what’s going on at the same time.
Watch it a couple times.
Turn on CC
There’s lots of shows with a female lead still, stop reaching
People don’t watch, by people I mean both men and women.
However your statement is not accurate by any means, many female lead shows did stand the test of time in the past. Reason they did back then was they were telling good stories instead of flogging a narrative.
Sexism.
NCSI should not have been cancelled. A favorite, excellent actors and storylines (and better than NCIS Sydney). Also seeing background landscapes of Hawaii, especially in winter, is a enjoyment.
NCIS Sydney has nothing to do with the US franchise or CBS choice to cancel NCIS Hawaii. It’s based on our shows but it’s an Australian TV production. Sydney was added to the CBS lineup due to the strike. That said, I’ll miss NCIS Hawaii very much. The show found it’s footing toward the end of season one and got better each year.
Any show that is in Hawaii is doomed at the start. They say it’s so expensive to shoot there. That’s what happened to Hawaii 5 O.and Magnum PI.. It is just a wait to see when they will be canceled. I so agree with the rest with NCIS Sydney what a trouble show!!
Both Hawaii Five O and Magnum lasted a very long time. The high cost to shoot there is moot and has no merit into why the Hawaii’s shows got cancelled.
Not Dead yet and so help me Todd Two of the worst cancellations ever because they were doing decent and could’ve came back for another season. They were wrong by their networks
“Ever”? That seems a bit extreme!
Magnum PI fans are still bitter about that unexpected cancellation last June. NBC had said that they felt Magnum PI was an asset to their lineup and then mishandled the show with a mid-season Sunday night time slot. With only 10 episodes of Season 5 aired, they decided not to renew the cast contracts for Season 6 due to the uncertainty of the Writers Strike. Then they used the final 10 episodes of Season 5 to fill their Strike Hole Ridden Fall 2023 lineup – but stuck it on Wednesday nights against new Survivor episodes rather than picking another night that would have given it a better chance a first view numbers. Magnum PI did not get a chance at a proper Series Finale, because the writers and cast had anticipated that there would be at least a Season 6. A year later, fans are still fighting for CBS to get Magnum PI on a Streamer like Netflix, so that Seasons 1-5 are available in one place. And are holding out hope for someone to give them a Season 6 or movie to give the show a proper ending and closure.
The show was placed at a 9 PM time slot, facing the final half-hour of “Survivor” and the first half-hour of “The Amazing Race,” both of which are currently 90 minutes long.
Maybe it’s time to move on…
Shame about So Help me Todd; I enjoyed it a lot. Great chemistry between cast and was funny, juicy & fast paced. Fingers crossed it’ll be picked up by someone else.
I am said about Todd leaving!!! It was quirky and enjoyable to watch! I also enjoyed that CSI came back and will miss this! Another quirky but different show was not dead yet! I’m not sure what people are watching but these were things I watched weekly! I record these series every week!
I liked Not Dead Yet, but the issue I had was the setup was at a newspaper company. It’s like please get with the times make it like an all digital newspaper company where you write the stories and then digitally apply them to internet.
Newspapers … which I worked for decades … are not dead yet. Please tell the thousands of journalists working on print newspapers that they serve no purpose in life at their company. By “getting with the times” and ignoring the print media you are doing a great disservice to these workers.
So help me Todd
Quantum Leap
Not dead yet
Bummed.
Love the simple humor of housebroken since I have dogs at both end of the smart spectrum.
Will miss NCIS Hawaii too.
Todd and NCIS Hawaii will be missed most!
So Help Me Todd was the best show on TV. Funny, clever, current, great comedic acting. BRING BACK SO HELP ME TODD! Anything up against Grey’s Anatomy has a tough time, but this show got me, a die hard Grey’s fan, to watch it first. We need this fun smart family oriented show!
CSI:Vegas was such a great show, nice throwback to the original while still being fresh and cutting edge on the technology. I just don’t understand why CBS couldn’t find room in their schedule or even on Paramount+. The other shows I’ve either not seen or I’m glad they’re gone (Extended Family & So Help Me Todd – both dreadful)
I’m still hurting from the loss of CSI: Miami!!!!!!
hi Dr Dave
CSI: Miami was a very good spinoff show that lasted about a decade from late 2002 to early 2012
reruns of CSI Miami are found on the Charge! and ION Mystery tv channels as I have those two channels in my area
NCIS Hawaii and CSI Vegas will be missed. It seems as though they’re finally getting rid of the show that appeal to those who are older than 50. While our numbers may be dwindling, we’re the ones that haven’t left broadcast TV for streaming unlike the younger generations who they’ll never get back, plus we spend more money than they do. They’ve made a strategic error in dumping those shows. The shows that apparently will take their place are not going to keep those over 50 watching the networks. I personally think many of the shows that are ending on broadcast TV are hastening the end of the medium and pushing older Americans to streaming where they will spend less direct money than with cable and ignore the advertisements more than broadcast TV.
Older people do have money, but they are less influenced in their purchasing decisions by advertising. Younger audiences are a much easier sell. I never thought that was efficient, as that means they’re also an easier sell – next week – to the advertiser’s competitor.
But if younger people aren’t watching network TV, programming is not going to solve the problem. The networks may be faced with accepting that their audience is their audience and it’s not going to change.
The saving grace for some of those shows lasting as long as they have is that they do well in overseas sales.
If CBS is aiming for a younger audience, then why reboot Gibbs in NCIS: Origins (set in the 1990s) and Matlock (with a 75-year-old Kathy Bates)?
What demographic is that aimed at? It can’t be 18-49.
Blatant ageism by CBS! ;-)
Feels like someone stuck a dagger into my heart when I first learned that NCIS:HAWAII
was going to be cancelled !!!! I’ve religiously watched each episode for the past 3 seasons, and I’m still hungry for more !!!! I like all the characters. I like all the storylines. I like all the episodes. Someone up there really made an extremely bad decision !!!!
The Top 3 are all from CBS – What the He!! were they thinking?? Do you think another network will pick up any of the top 3?
I agree completely!!!
After watching CBS on Thursday evening — So Help Me Todd, Elsbeth, and a promo for Matlock — I was left with this: 1) So Help Me Todd will be missed; it deserved at least one more season, 2) Elsbeth is wearing out its welcome; it is a pleasant diversion but not much more, 3) Matlock? Why would this replace any of the shows on your list?
So Help Me Todd was a wonderful show and as you say, deserved more. Elsbeth–am I the only one who finds her annoying?
Matlock–Kathy Bates channeling Andy Griffith. Give me back Marcia Gay Harden…
Going to miss NCIS Hawaii and Quantum Leap. However, the show I’m going to miss most is Blue Bloods. I know, they’re using smoke and mirrors in saying that it gets cancelled after next season. But realistically, it’s a half season. Either way, I’m going to miss family dinner. I’m going to miss this authentic family. I’ve watched from the beginning and have seen every episode multiple times. I really wish CBS would reconsider.
If I could like this a thousand times I would, because I am a die-hard Blue Bloods fan and think that there isn’t another show like it on TV. A hole will be left in the schedule for those who just enjoy a good family show was good writing and great characters. I think they’re making a big mistake canceling it, and although they at least get an ending, it really strips viewers of the chance to have a whole season.
So Help Me Todd and CSI HAWAII should be renewed…I believe at least 2 of their replacement shows won’t make it past the first season…and Elsbeth will probably be the next one to go! So spots will be available to keep these 2 good shows.
I don’t give one hoot about ANOTHER NCIS show. I don’t watch the ones that are on now. Why do you cancel EVERYTHING GOOD??? We need more comedies, less cops.
So Help Me Todd should have not been cancelled.
NCIS Hawaii was just starting to get good once Sam joined. NCIS Sydney will suffer the same fate unless they bring on an exciting actor like Alex Oloughlin
Not Dead Yet had a special place for all, they should have kept it going.
Please don’t cancel NCIS Hawaii and CSI Vegas! Bad move, CBS! I have always been an avid fan of CBS shows, for the most part. Please reconsider.
So Help Me Todd reminded me of the Thin Man films: great banter between the 2 main actors; a hilarious, talented motley crew of supporting actors; rich mining of human exasperation with our born families, work families, past & current partners. Yet these frictions are how we learn. Sometimes all it took was seeing Todd & Allison glaring at each other for me to burst out laughing! Thank you all again, a rare bird indeed.
Wish I could vote three times for Todd!!!!! Stupid CBS!!
Save SHMT
Best show on tv in a long time.
Fantastic cast, writers. Please bring the show back to us! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
I am so very tired of CBS cancelling the better shows that keep you tuned in by making you think who the killer(s) could be and their motives in favor of some of the other shows that I don’t believe have a story line or characters that can hold anyone’s attention for 5 seconds let alone a season. Gone are the days of good writing & acting.
I will miss CSI Vegas and NCIS Hawaii. I hate that when you get use to watching certain shows and then their gone. Wish they would bring these two back. Great cast on both shows. There is no guarantee that the new shows will be any better.
My votes: CSI: Vegas, NCIS: Hawai’i, and So Help Me Todd. I will miss these three series.
Please don’t cancel Blue Bloods! I so look forward to it every week! I also lamented about the cancelation of NCIS Hawaii and CSI Vegas in another post. Come on, CBS! Please reconsider. By the way, I can’t stand Elsbeth; that needs to be cancelled!
YES cancel Elisbeth such a dumb show.
Bring back So Help Me Todd
Why cancel some of the best shows? I am so disappointed in CBS. Seems like once you enjoy a show it gets canceled, often for many much less worthy of watching. The fall season will not be something to look forward to.🤬
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Bring back So Help Me Todd