“S.W.A.T.” became the latest victim of CBS’ ruthless primetime bloodbath on Thursday.
The action drama was canceled after eight seasons, the third time the show faced an unfortunate ending, as its lead actor Shemar Moore said it had “defied the odds.”
“We are canceled again,” Moore said in a video posted to Instagram Friday. “It sucks. It’s sad.
“Uncanceled twice, two years in a row. Now I don’t know my history, but how many shows get to say that? I’m going to say none. Or we’re one of the none. We did that and we are so proud.”
“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,’” he recalled. “But I said ‘Be proud,’ because we defied the odds and we made a hit television show that the world loved to watch.”
The show follows LAPD SWAT Sgt. Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson — played by Moore — and his highly skilled team in the Los Angeles area.
While the show was renewed several times during its early seasons, CBS unexpectedly canceled it after the sixth season in 2023.
The network changed its tune days later and called for a “seventh and final season,” before another season was ordered last April.
The final nail in the coffin for the drama came after CBS did not hold contract talks with Sony Pictures Television, unlike previous years, Deadline reported.
The show, which airs on Friday at 10 p.m. ET, averages .28 in the 18-49 demographic, according to the TV Ratings Guide.
Executive producer and showrunner Andrew Dettmann said he was left heartbroken by the news but thanked the cast and crew he worked with during the show’s run.
“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,” Dettmann told the outlet. “I can’t give them enough credit. I feel so privileged to have been a part of the ‘S.W.A.T.’ family.”
Dettmann claimed the show was loved by network executives but alluded to a “corporate change” happening in the industry that could’ve played a role in the types of shows that are being greenlit or renewed.
Moore addressed the network, saying it could always change its mind.
“I say to CBS, if you’re done — I know it’s about money, optics, politics — I don’t think you’re making the right choice,” the show’s star said. “But if you are done, I say thank you, genuinely, honestly from my heart.”
Moore gave 90 percent of the credit for his 31 years in acting to the network between series including “Criminal Minds,” “The Young and the Restless” and “S.W.A.T.”
The actor suggested to CBS that it would make “a lot of people smile” if the executives changed their minds and did another about-face on the show’s future.
He even flirted with the prospect of the show being picked up by another studio or network including Netflix, NBC, Fox or ABC.
“If you’re interested in a show that’s on autopilot, that the world is watching, we’d love to come play,” he said.
Regardless of the series’ fate, Moore says he is excited for the “next chapter” of his life with his family including his daughter.
“I ain’t done, my knees are ready, I’ve lost 20 pounds, I’m ready to go.”
