TNT & Lifetime Looking At Cancelled CBS Drama ‘Unforgettable’: Will It Live On?

EXCLUSIVE: The cancellation of CBS’ freshman drama Unforgettable was one of the closest calls this upfront season. Now the procedural starring Poppy Montgomery and Dylan Walsh is exploring a move to cable. I’ve learned that producers Sony Pictures TV and CBS TV Studios have had preliminary conversations with TNT and Lifetime about potentially picking up the series. Unforgettable, which centers on Carrie Wells (Montgomery), a New York detective with the ability to visually remember everything, would make sense for both TNT and Lifetime. TNT has had a lot of success with female-lead cop procedurals with The Closer and Rizzoli & Isles. Lifetime has tried hard to launch one with two recent series, The Protector and Against The Wall, both of which were cancelled after one season. Turner has been the most open to rescuing broadcast series with NBC’s Southland going to TNT and most recently Cougar Town moving to TBS.

When asked what went wrong for Unforgettable to warrant the cancellation after a relatively solid first-season run, CBS entertainment president Nina Tassler said the question is not “what went wrong with Unforgettable but what went right with the new pilots.” Unforgettable averaged 12 million viewers and a 2.5 among adults 18-49.

Comments (128)

  • YES, YES, YES, pleaseeeeee!!!

    Comment by Bright — Thursday May 17, 2012 @ 7:04pm PDT  Reply to this post
    • Harry’s Law too!

      Poppy Montgomery is very difficult to work with and needs some serious attitude intervention.

      Comment by Fiona — Monday May 21, 2012 @ 9:50am PDT  Reply to this post
      • Really Fiona?!
        One of the best actress out there and one of sweetest person I know!

        Comment by Shar — Wednesday June 13, 2012 @ 4:06pm PDT  Reply to this post
      • I love Poppy Montgomery!! She is a great actress!! I loved her in everything she has been in. Especially Unforgettable and Without a Trace. I have dealt with Without a Trace being canceled, but Unforgettable is different in so many ways. There has never been a show that someone had such a great(photographic)memory and was so determine to find out what happen to a loved one or anyone who has been hurt or killed in some way. I hope that you renew Unforgettable on TNT because I do not get Lifetime and I love Unforgettable!!!! Please renew the SHOW UNFORGETTABLE!!!!!

        Comment by CBlair — Tuesday September 4, 2012 @ 5:40pm PDT  Reply to this post
    • ‘Unforgettable’ officially renewed by CBS for summer 2013

      Comment by shilo — Thursday December 27, 2012 @ 12:12pm PST  Reply to this post
  • let’s hope, I’ll keep watching. now pick up “prime suspect.”

    Comment by billib — Thursday May 17, 2012 @ 7:09pm PDT  Reply to this post
    • That will NEVER happen…

      Comment by Anonymous — Thursday May 17, 2012 @ 7:26pm PDT  Reply to this post
    • Or you could just watch the original Prime Suspect right?

      Comment by K — Thursday May 17, 2012 @ 8:05pm PDT  Reply to this post
      • Exactly. Go Helen Mirren!

        Comment by flixnut — Thursday May 17, 2012 @ 8:57pm PDT  Reply to this post
    • YEA I TOO ENJOYED PRIME SUSPECT—3 SHOWS NEED TO COME BACK
      PRIME SUSPECT
      UNFORGETABLE
      HARRYS LAW–LOVED THEM ALL
      AND original prime suspect was great-i have all on r2 dvd–im in uk–but acc to itv-no more being made-

      Comment by KEV — Tuesday May 22, 2012 @ 12:02am PDT  Reply to this post
      • let’s not forget Missing and Prime Suspect. Why do all the good shows get cancelled and they keep renewing reality crap shows. I can’t believe it. Please pick up these shows!!!

        Comment by Donna — Monday June 11, 2012 @ 6:33pm PDT  Reply to this post
  • Fingers crossed!!!!! Fantastic show that should not have been cancelled – I can see it having a very long live on cable.

    Comment by Sam Peterson — Thursday May 17, 2012 @ 7:22pm PDT  Reply to this post
    • Agree totally
      they were fantastid and 13 M viewers is nothing to
      ignore – plus they were up against almost every Presidential Debate.
      Great Acting, intellient show, every episode gave another clue and it was growning. As good as any movie and brilliant for stupid tv audiance.
      you’re right – hope that they pitch it to a new network and i know it will last a long time with such amazing scripts, acting, and had already year one been nominated for an award. Bosses at CBS should e fired – not this fantastic show. The show was a classic and Unfogettable. People really loved the show and it will last 8 or more years if given a slot on TNT or Lifetime – we’ll all watch and buy what is advertised. To bad CBS is so out of it. Two and a half men – common – seriously!!!!!!

      Comment by Mark — Sunday May 20, 2012 @ 7:45pm PDT  Reply to this post
  • I hope they get picked up I love the show :)

    Comment by Elizabeth Wood — Thursday May 17, 2012 @ 7:27pm PDT  Reply to this post
  • hey how about “Missing” ? I am hoping TNT will extend “Missing” . I want to strangle ABC for cancelling my fav show with Ms Judd.

    Comment by jen — Thursday May 17, 2012 @ 7:27pm PDT  Reply to this post
    • I like missing the show moves along and i watch it through instead of get up and do something while its on ,They are wrong to let it go!!!!!!!!!!!!.

      Comment by charlene guardado — Friday May 18, 2012 @ 9:48pm PDT  Reply to this post
    • yea–i love us tv shows-but annoying thing is when they cancel them–and its a cliff hanger–i feel like ive wasted weeks wacthing a show-with no ending–i mean will we ever find out what happened to ms judd?

      Comment by kev — Tuesday May 22, 2012 @ 12:06am PDT  Reply to this post
  • What about CSI: Miami ending up on cable and living on?

    Comment by Don — Thursday May 17, 2012 @ 7:27pm PDT  Reply to this post
    • Only if they drop David Caruso. Worst actor in a cop show, and that includes Jack Webb.

      Comment by Anonymous — Wednesday July 18, 2012 @ 4:00pm PDT  Reply to this post
  • Dylan Walsh deserves better. Let the show die. It’s not worth saving. The last couple of episodes were below 2.0 among adults 18-49.

    Comment by JWB — Thursday May 17, 2012 @ 7:39pm PDT  Reply to this post
    • I’ve been saying the same thing about Dylan since the first episode of this crapfest. He’s too talented for this dreck.

      Comment by Michelle — Friday May 18, 2012 @ 9:22am PDT  Reply to this post
  • For the people who want to see Prime Suspect back… it wouldn’t happen. Maria Bello already signed on to star in the second season of Touch. That show is dead.

    Now I can see this going to Lifetime. They’ve been wanting to add a procedural to its lineup for awhile and they get 22 eps to help preview the show before a second season. Feels like the network’s type of show. Though, TNT isn’t a bad match for it either, I think TNT’s got to strong of a pilot lineup to really consider it at the moment.

    Comment by Mac — Thursday May 17, 2012 @ 7:52pm PDT  Reply to this post
    • is it just me-or is touch–rubbish—would have prefered-terra nova/csi maimi to stay—i think fox renewed touch-because they want to keep hold of mr sutherland-

      Comment by kev — Tuesday May 22, 2012 @ 12:04am PDT  Reply to this post
  • Poppy is fun but the writing on this show is terrible. The gimmick got tired so fast. Leave it dead.

    Comment by deelite — Thursday May 17, 2012 @ 7:53pm PDT  Reply to this post
    • Agree. I watched 5 episodes and got sick of it.

      Comment by al — Friday May 18, 2012 @ 12:19pm PDT  Reply to this post
  • Constantly good scripts. Good cast, director(s), production values and here..a constant fan. I don’t believe I’m alone on the aforementioned.

    Comment by John Harris — Thursday May 17, 2012 @ 8:01pm PDT  Reply to this post
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