CBS has once again canceled S.W.A.T.
On Thursday, March 6, the show’s producers and cast were told the police drama will end with its current eighth season, Variety reported.
The news comes after the series was canceled then un-canceled twice — in 2023 and in 2024.
Series star and executive producer Shemar Moore reacted to this latest cancellation in a video statement Thursday on Instagram.
“S.W.A.T., here we are season eight, three weeks away from the finale. We are canceled again. It sucks. It’s sad,” Moore said. “I had to give a speech today to my crew and say, ‘Hey, we’re done. There’s nothing I can say to make this sound nice, good, optimistic, nothing.'”
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Despite being disappointed, Moore said he told the crew to “be proud” of the work they did, and he thanked CBS for giving the show eight seasons.
“CBS, if you’re done, I know it’s about money, optics, politics. I don’t think you’re making the right choice, I’ll say that,” he continued. “But if you are done, I say thank you, genuinely, honestly, from my heart, because it’s my 31st anniversary of being in this game, 31 years is, I don’t know, 90 percent because of you.”
The actor noted that he previously had roles on the CBS shows The Young and the Restless and Criminal Minds.
Then he made an appeal to Netflix to rescue S.W.A.T., which he said has performed well on the streaming platform.
“Hey, Netflix, how you doing? Let me just remind you that in a very short period of time, once upon a time ago… we stayed in your top 10, top 15 for about six months, nine months, maybe a year,” he said. “So Netflix, if you’re interested in a show that is an autopilot that the world is watching, we’d love to come play.”
S.W.A.T. centers on an elite LAPD squad and is produced by Sony Pictures Television in association with CBS Studios.
CBS network first canceled the drama following season 6 in May 2023. But after pushback from Moore and fans, the network opted to bring the show back for a final season and a proper sendoff, saying “we have listened.”
Then in April 2024, the network canceled the show again and announced the air date for the final episode of season 7. Days later, CBS reversed its decision and ordered an eighth season.
CBS, Sony Pictures TV and CBS Studios were previously able to work out deals to bring the show back at a price favorable to all sides, according to published reports. But this time the drama could not be saved.
TV Series Finale reports season 7 of S.W.A.T. averaged a 0.36 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 4.64 million viewers.
Earlier this week, CBS also canceled FBI: International and FBI: Most Wanted. Both shows are spinoffs of the popular FBI, which was renewed for three more seasons in 2024.
Season 4 of FBI: International averaged a 0.32 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 4.82 million viewers.
Season 6 of FBI: Most Wanted averaged a 0.31 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 4.27 million viewers .
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