By Ebony Williams
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
NEW YORK — CBS felt the heat moments after announcing the cancellation of its No. 1 Friday night show, “S.W.A.T.”
On Friday, Deadline reported CBS canceled “S.W.A.T.” because of an issue with a “flat license fee that would compromise the show’s financial model.” While the company said it was a strictly financial decision, viewers and the show’s actors said it didn’t make sense because the show has been No. 1 in its time slot for more than two years.
Not only did fans take to social media to share outrage at the decision, but lead actor Shemar Moore had a few words to say in a Saturday Instagram video.
“I’m a little bit sad, I’m a lot of bit sad, we got canceled. ‘S.W.A.T.,’ ” Moore said. “It makes no sense. We’re the best show on Friday nights block for CBS. The last two years we’ve been killing it — us and the fire show that comes on after us. We’ve done nothing wrong.”
The cries didn’t go unheard, and over the weekend the company released a statement announcing the un-cancellation of the show.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CsASZwtrVN9/
“We have listened to our viewers and their outpouring of passion for S.W.A.T. and we have reached an agreement to renew it for a final season of 13 episodes to air during the 2023-2024 broadcast year,” Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment, and Katherine Pope, president of Sony Pictures Television Studios, said in a joint statement to Deadline.
Moore spread the good news to his following on Instagram on Monday with the caption “Ayyeee!!!!! We did it #SWATFAM!!! @swatcbs is coming back for a 7th and Final season with 13 Episodes!!! Thank you to all of you for the continued and amazing support!! Let’s go”
https://twitter.com/ObbaBabatunde/status/1655751823775485953
“S.W.A.T. has aired for six seasons on CBS and garnered a devoted following. We are pleased that we found a way to bring it back and give closure to the show’s storylines and characters, which audiences deserve. Once again, we appreciate the talents and efforts of the cast, writers, producers and crew and everyone who has contributed to the success of S.W.A.T. We look forward to its return next season,” Reisenbach and Pope said.
https://www.facebook.com/SWATCBS/photos/pcb.6100329693418313/6100196193431663/
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