The Defenders (2010 TV series)

The Defenders
Genre
Created by
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes18
Production
Executive producers
Running time43 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseSeptember 22, 2010 (2010-09-22) –
March 11, 2011 (2011-03-11)
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

The Defenders is an American legal comedy-drama television series that was ordered to series by CBS for the 2010–11 television season.[1][2] The series originally ran from September 22, 2010, to March 11, 2011. Set in Las Vegas, Nevada, the show involves a pair of defense attorneys who go all out to help their clients while keeping their personal lives in order. The show is loosely based on real-life Vegas lawyers Michael Cristalli and Marc Saggese.[3][4] This series is not related to the 1960s CBS series of the same name.

In October 2010, CBS announced that the show had been picked up for a 18-episode season with the option to produce a full 22-episode season.[5] In January 2011, CBS announced that The Defenders was moving from its Wednesday timeslot to the Friday timeslot vacated by Medium which aired on NBC and then CBS for seven seasons, with Blue Bloods temporarily moving to the timeslot The Defenders vacated. Blue Bloods returned to its Friday timeslot in February 2011 owing to the series premiere of Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior. The Defenders aired the last six episodes of its season on Fridays at 8:00 p.m. Eastern/7:00 p.m. Central.[6] Jim Belushi and Jerry O'Connell star as the defense attorneys of the show's title.

On May 15, 2011, CBS canceled the series after one season.[7]

  1. ^ The Futon Critic Staff (May 17, 2010). "CBS Welcomes Four to Freshman Class". The Futon Critic. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  2. ^ CBS (May 19, 2010). "CBS Announces 2010–2011 Primetime Schedule" (Press release). The Futon Critic. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  3. ^ Starr, Michael (June 26, 2010). "Vegas attorneys inspire 'The Defenders' on CBS". New York Post. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
  4. ^ Katsilometes, John (October 2, 2010). "'The Defenders' calls on Cristalli & Saggese to make Vegas its home court". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
  5. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 21, 2010). "CBS Gives Full-Season Orders To All 5 Freshman Series: 'Hawaii Five-0', 'Blue Bloods', 'Defenders', 'Mike & Molly' & '$#*!'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  6. ^ CBS (July 22, 2010). "CBS Announces 2010–2011 Premiere Dates" (Press release). The Futon Critic. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
  7. ^ Seidman, Robert (May 15, 2011). "'The Defenders,' 'S#*! My Dad Says,' and 'Mad Love' Canceled By CBS". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 18, 2011. Retrieved October 29, 2014.