See Shemar Moore Celebrate S.W.A.T Hitting 150 Episodes By Opening Up About Almost Saying No To His Role And Reflecting On Its Double Un-Cancellation

As a dedicated fan of S.W.A.T., I can’t help but feel a deep sense of admiration and appreciation for this incredible show that has managed to defy the odds time and again. With its upcoming eighth season, S.W.A.T. is not just proving itself as a resilient force in TV drama, but it’s also becoming a testament to the power of passion, determination, and the indomitable spirit of the human will.


With its eighth season set to air in 2024, CBS’s action-packed series S.W.A.T. is gearing up for a triumphant return. After being revived for a second time, this gritty procedural has much to celebrate. As Season 8 approaches, the cast and crew are rejoicing over reaching a significant milestone – surpassing the 150-episode mark. During these celebrations, Shemar Moore delivered an impassioned speech to his fellow cast members. In it, he shared that he initially turned down the role, and reminisced about the show’s miraculous rescues from cancellation.

Earlier this week, the cast and crew gathered around a S.W.A.T.-themed cake to celebrate their milestone. Moore shared a video to Instagram of the speech he gave thanking everyone who works on the show and those who came before them, such as the original S.W.A.T. series and the films, check it out:

A post shared by Shemar Moore (@shemarfmoore)

A photo posted by on

In his speech, Moore mentioned that at first, he declined the offer for the show since he found the compensation disappointing. Yet, it was a talk with his mother that eventually swayed his decision, as he expressed later on.

I succeeded because the situation was tough, and then Shawn Ryan emailed me a lovely message, which was followed by a script or the pilot episode, helping me make it through the opening scene. This all happened at my mother’s house – though she’s in Heaven now, I could almost see her smiling at me, proud. At 9:30 in the morning, I invited her to have some Hennessy, but she reminded me it was still early. I showed her the script teaser instead, and at 74, she read it and said, “This is your son’s show.

Additionally, the actor emphasized that S.W.A.T. isn’t solely his work or a solo effort, but rather a collective endeavor involving many people. In fact, he advocated for including every cast member in the initial poster as the network initially only wanted him on it.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but marvel at the fact that he mentioned the show’s “uncanceled” status not once, but twice. It’s simply awe-inspiring to witness this series reaching such a significant milestone, even though we know it’s nearing its end on multiple occasions. The future may hold uncertainties, but the former Criminal Minds star has made it clear that he’s determined to push the series to 10 seasons and 200 episodes. Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see this dream come true in just two more years.

The 150th celebration coincided perfectly, given that S.W.A.T. started its eighth season the very same week. In April, it was revealed that the show had been saved from cancellation for the second time in under a year, and production began during the summer. Although there will be some cast changes for Season 8 as Alex Russell and Kenny Johnson parted ways last season, the upcoming episodes promise to be just as exciting.

A few weeks ago, during a CBS autumn preview clip, Shemar Moore expressed his gratitude for returning for another season, and I completely agree with him. With the series reaching its 150th episode, it could have easily ended at either 128 or 141 episodes. Given this, “grateful” might be the perfect term to express our delight in having more episodes.

It’s quite likely that S.W.A.T. could reach a milestone of 200 episodes, as CBS President Amy Reisenbach has expressed her personal appreciation for the show and was glad that CBS could renew its contract with Sony. Fingers crossed, this positive outlook persists, ensuring the series continues to be revived. Yet, it’s essential to stay present-minded, as S.W.A.T. Season 8 kicks off on Friday, October 18 at 8 p.m. ET, only on CBS.

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2024-10-18 20:07