It’s become a disappointing endeavor whenever a beloved series is canceled. This is now the case with another beloved series on CBS, but what’s surprising this time around, is that it’s the third time this series has been canceled by the network.
This announcement reveals that its ongoing eighth season is set to be its final season. As mentioned, however, it was previously canceled – albeit temporarily – in the past. Despite strong fan support, it appears that the decision is final, signaling the end of an era for the show and leaving fans to reflect on its legacy and impact.
Its original final seasons were supposed to be its sixth season, then its seventh season, but now CBS seems confident that the eighth season really will be its last. Here’s what Deadline shared regarding the cancellation:
“S.W.A.T. has run out of lives. CBS has canceled the police drama starring Shemar Moore, now in its eighth season that will wrap in May.”
S.W.A.T. apparently just didn’t perform well enough with ratings to keep going. The show’s executive producer and showrunner, Andrew Dettmann, released a statement to illustrate how disappointed he was by the news. Here’s what he stated:
“It’s heartbreaking news, 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,” Dettmann said. “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.”
Additional executive producer and former showrunner Shawn Ryan released a similar statement, and emphasized how he hopes the cast and crew of the series finds employment soon:
“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,” he said. “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.”
CBS has been drastically changing its lineup, with two other shows – the spin-offs of FBI – having also been canceled. This could mark a new era for the network and one that relies far less on drama shows to maintain an audience. Stay tuned to ScreenGeek for any additional CBS updates as we have them.