When CBS canceled Magnum P.I. in 2022 after 4 seasons, it was one of the vital stunning cancellations of a TV collection. Ever.
With rankings throughout the board dipping increasingly annually, Magnum P.I. Season 4 had exceptional resilience.
It was one of many community’s most-watched exhibits and delivered stable viewership on the lesser-viewed Friday nights within the U.S.
Had Hearth Nation not been part of the community’s agenda for the 2022-23 season, there is a good probability Magnum P.I. would have remained on the community for one more couple of seasons.
On the time of its cancellation, CBS had many exhibits on deck for the next season and did not assume transferring Magnum P.I. to a different night time would profit the present.
Thus, the community axed the profitable collection after 4 seasons, leaving the passionate followers who tuned into the present for years questioning what would turn into of their favourite present.
In July 2022, months after CBS put the collection out to pasture, NBC stepped in to avoid wasting the day, giving the present — and followers — a lifeline within the type of a 20-episode order.
It was a dream come true as a result of it meant we obtained to return to the Magnum P.I. universe for one more season and would get a decision to that #Miggy cliffhanger.
To NBC’s credit score, the community did promote the transfer to a brand new community, and the promotion helped followers perceive the present had discovered a brand new residence.
Sadly, regardless of NBC execs touting the present’s transfer to a brand new community, the numbers for Magnum P.I. Season 5 Episode 1 had been low.
The episode managed 3.8 million viewers and a 0.3 ranking within the demo to hit and match collection lows (on the time!).
Magnum P.I. Season 4 averaged 5.2 million viewers and a 0.4 ranking on NBC, however the numbers soared once they factored in post-airdate viewing.
The collection was a bonafide hit, however it was harmed in its transfer to Sunday nights.
NBC clearly needed to revamp the night time with Magnum P.I. and Discovered, however the plan later modified with The Blacklist serving because the collection’ lead-out.
The numbers for Magnum P.I. on Sundays went as little as 2.7 million viewers and a 0.2 ranking — method down from its heyday on CBS.
The collection had large competitors within the type of American Idol on ABC, East New York, and NCIS: Los Angeles.
On cable, the present went up in opposition to behemoths like The Final of Us and 90 Day Fiance — all exhibits which might be competing for a similar 18-49 demo.
It makes you wonder if NBC conserving the present on Fridays at 9 p.m. would have been the higher choice.
Followers had been acquainted with that point interval, and it might have most likely given NBC one thing to boast about going through Hearth Nation, the present CBS changed the Jay Hernandez drama.
Transferring exhibits to a brand new community is hard, however transferring them to a brand new night time and time is a distinct situation totally.
Magnum P.I.’s one-time lead-in S.W.A.T. can attest to a time interval being essential to a present’s success.
CBS beforehand pulled S.W.A.T. from Fridays to shore up its Sunday slot in early 2022, and the numbers had been method down, so the community righted the mistaken and moved it again to Fridays, the place the numbers elevated.
Although NBC allowed the primary half of Magnum P.I. Season 5 to air on Sundays, the community may have at the least given the present an opportunity to see if it obtained a rise again on Fridays at 9 p.m. earlier than making the decision to cancel the collection.
Now, it is easy to say, “You need to be proud of 20 further episodes after NBC picked it up,” but when these had been imagined to convey the collection to a detailed, why not announce as a lot when the present obtained picked up?
Additionally, NBC’s determination to air the 20-episode season throughout two TV seasons arrange the present for failure.
As Deadline reported on the time of the present’s demise, the solid choices had been set to run out on June 30, so a choice to resume, cancel, or lengthen choices on the actors needed to be made.
Had the solid choices not been the hurdle, NBC may have delayed the choice till the ultimate episodes of Magnum P.I. aired in midseason 2024.
The opposite kicker is that Magnum P.I. Season 5 has already wrapped filming, that means that the collection finale will not have the closure we must always count on for a present on the air this lengthy.
Heck, there could also be no closure and a plethora of cliffhangers.
That being mentioned, we’re inclined to consider the finale might be edited to take away any cliffhangers to make it appear to be this was the plan all alongside.
NBC is anticipated to do an in depth promotional marketing campaign to tout the ultimate episodes, however it’s arduous to not really feel just like the community picked the present up, promised large issues, and dropped it like a scorching potato when it obtained the prospect.
Understanding that TV is a numbers sport, it is easy to know that it has to make financial sense to maintain a present on the air.
Consequently, it is disconcerting NBC by no means tried the present on Fridays once more to see if the numbers went in the fitting route.
When you concentrate on it, there’s little TV on the air proper now because of the WGA strike, and NBC has ten episodes within the can.
Go determine.
The community desires to have some scripted programming within the 2023-24 season, however its determination to carry Magnum P.I. to shore up its schedule may very well be one of many largest causes for the collection’ demise.
The solid, creatives, and followers deserve extra, however this is similar community that canceled Manifest on the most important cliffhanger.
What extra ought to we’ve anticipated?
It will be far simpler to digest the information of Magnum P.I.’s cancellation had NBC tried to make the present profitable.
However now, we’re saying goodbye to Magnum P.I. for the second time, and it hurts figuring out this wasn’t meant to be the top and that we most likely will not get a lot of a conclusion.
Alright, Magnum P.I. Fanatics!
I may go on and on about how I feel the present has been poorly handled.
What are your ideas on the cancellation and the ultimate episodes being held till 2024?
Hit the feedback, however earlier than you do, vote in our ballot under!
Do you assume NBC failed Magnum P.I.?
Paul Dailly is the Affiliate Editor for TV Fanatic. Observe him on Twitter.
