Suits L.A. Canceled: TV Trend You Won’t Believe!

For approximately a year, it felt as though every NBC broadcast contained promotions or sneak peeks for the freshly launched series, which was actually a sequel to Suits, first airing in 2011 on the USA Network. The aggressive marketing strategy suggested that the network believed this new show had strong prospects of attracting viewers. Unfortunately, the network decided to terminate the series right before its season finale. It seemed that the writing was already there, written on the wall, for this particular show. Critics heavily criticized the pilot episode, and the ratings reflected the lack of public interest.

The comeback of the Suits universe didn’t resonate with viewers, and it wasn’t due to any fault on the part of fans, actors, writers, or directors associated with the show. Instead, the perceived failure of Suits L.A. can be attributed more to the evolving nature of the entertainment industry, as well as the challenges faced by those in power – such as NBC and other networks and studios – in understanding how to adapt to these changes. It’s possible that Suits L.A. was doomed not because of its quality but due to the unrealistic expectations it faced.

Over the Past 30 Years, TV Production and Consumption Changed Drastically

From Cable to Streaming, the Death of Network TV Looms Large on the Horizon

For nearly half a century, television broadcasting held a monopoly over the small screen. However, cable TV expanded viewers’ choices significantly, offering numerous channels and programs. It could be said that the golden age of broadcast television was reached during this period. Nevertheless, some of the iconic shows from that era faced difficulty maintaining their footing for more than one season before eventually becoming cultural phenomenons like Seinfeld, Friends, and others – they had the advantage of time to find success.

The prevalence of cable and “prestige TV” series drew audiences away from broadcast networks.
The advent of streaming decreased the audience for both network and cable channels.

Previously, television seasons typically spanned from late summer or early autumn until the late spring of the following years. Shows would commonly air 23 episodes (or more) each season to fill the programming schedule. However, with the advent of cable networks producing original series, seasons became shorter, usually consisting of around half that number of episodes. Many shows on these networks featured fewer episodes per season compared to typical network programs. High-end dramas on other networks followed suit, airing approximately 13 episodes a year, focusing on serialized storytelling.

In the case of “Lost,” it quickly became a blockbuster sensation upon its release, but as it progressed on television networks, some viewers noticed a decrease in episode quality due to the pressure from producers to meet network demands. Interestingly, the creators of “Lost” made an unusual move by requesting ABC cancel the series so they could conclude the story properly. When “Lost” was added to Netflix ahead of its 20th anniversary, it climbed the streaming charts and attracted both old and new viewers. Shows similar to “Suits L.A.” that experience such popularity yet struggle due to unfinished narratives are often doomed for failure.

Suits L.A. Came as a Response to a Streaming Fluke, & NBC Expected Immediate Returns

The Network Doesn’t Seem to Realize Why Viewers Flocked to Suits on Netflix

Initially airing on USA in 2011, the first season of Suits comprised 12 episodes, and it quickly gained success. Subsequent seasons, numbering seven, had 16 episodes each, except for the ninth which contained just ten. Surprisingly, the show outlasted initial predictions by two more seasons. When Suits made its appearance on Netflix in 2023, it saw an astonishing boost in popularity. For 12 consecutive weeks, it reigned supreme on streaming ratings charts, and NBC expressed keen interest in a revival. The subsequent series was a direct consequence of what enthusiasts online dubbed the Suits phenomenon.

Suits and Its Spinoffs at a Glance
Title	Debut date	Finale date	Total Seasons	Total Episodes
Suits	June 23, 2011	September 25, 2019	9	134
Pearson	July 17, 2019	September 18, 2019	1	10
Suits L.A.	February 23, 2025	May 18, 2025	1	13

It’s worth noting that Suits: L.A. isn’t the first spinoff; a show named Pearson previously premiered on USA Network during the last season of the original series. However, thanks to the immense popularity of the original series on Netflix, this new sequel series found a spot in NBC’s main schedule, increasing anticipation for its success. Regrettably, despite the high expectations and strong presence of the original series on streaming platforms, it didn’t achieve the desired level of success.

In my humble opinion as a film critic, less than two weeks before its scheduled airing, it’s not surprising that NBC decided to cancel “Suits L.A.” due to its lackluster ratings and critical reviews. However, considering the unusual circumstances under which they greenlit this spin-off of “Suits,” it seems NBC may have underestimated the factors contributing to the original series’ success on streaming platforms. Despite the first season’s performance, the network apparently anticipated an immediate hit, a belief that history suggests is often unfounded for shows like this one, which typically require time to gain traction and build a devoted fanbase.

Both Networks and Streamers Barely Give New Shows a Chance to Find an Audience

Failure Becomes a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy Without the Proper Patience

Creating shows like Suits L.A. isn’t the only avenue because streaming and digital television offer detailed audience interaction data. This means that platforms can track viewer engagement right down to each minute. New shows often start with very few episodes (as little as six in a season), and they might get canceled before audiences even discover them. The decision to end Suits L.A. by NBC is particularly short-sighted compared to other series that fall victim to this trend, given that the original series gained popularity on streaming platforms. It was imprudent of NBC to anticipate viewers would consistently tune in weekly via traditional broadcast TV instead.

When inquired about why NBC decided not to proceed with the spin-off series, NBC’s President of Programming and Strategy admitted that it didn’t gain traction as they had anticipated. This might appear to be an issue with the show or its viewers, but it reveals a fundamental misconception among NBC executives about “the Suits effect.” They apparently believed that the new series would quickly ascend to the popularity it took Suits over a decade to achieve on a separate platform. Furthermore, he pointed out a basic misunderstanding of what it entails for a series to find its identity and connect with its audience.

Initially, the show had a bumpy beginning, as is often the case with new shows on NBC. If they had ordered 13 more episodes, it would have completed a full season according to traditional network TV standards. A break between Season 1 and Season 2 might have given audiences more time to discover the series online. Had NBC moved Suits L.A. to Netflix, viewers who kept Suits popular even a dozen years after its premiere could have boosted the spinoff’s standing. However, NBC prematurely canceled the show due to fear it wasn’t an immediate hit.

Why Suits L.A. Will Never Enjoy a Renaissance Like the Original Series Did

The ‘Suits Effect’ Represents an Audience Desire for an Older Style of TV Production

One factor that made the original series on Netflix appealing was having multiple episodes available for binge-watching, allowing viewers to delve into the story without finishing it in one sitting. With 13 episodes in its first season and a potential cliffhanger ending, Suits L.A. might not experience a similar resurgence since streaming platforms tend to favor series that are completed. It seems likely that Suits L.A. will remain an unfinished show due to this factor.

In a different twist, attempting to replicate the charm of “Suits” with a fresh cast would undoubtedly fall short as well. The spin-off series might have discovered its unique allure if given time to develop. However, NBC appeared to rely on the “Suits” brand name alone to attract these new viewers from streaming platforms to traditional broadcast TV. Even if the potential audience on Netflix was aware of “Suits L.A.”, they probably intended to wait until the entire first season aired on streaming before watching it.

The revival of ‘Suits’ showed two key aspects about contemporary viewers. Firstly, a well-crafted show can still garner a massive following, even after it has been off the air. Secondly, there is an enduring interest among viewers to commit to a series that spans multiple seasons and numerous episodes. Regrettably, NBC seemed to overlook these insights, which ultimately led to the downfall of ‘Suits L.A.’, a show that may have struggled due to the same flaws critics pointed out in its original version. The cancellation of ‘Suits L.A.’ was seemingly unjustified because NBC failed to comprehend why they wanted the series in the first place.

At the moment, you can watch Suits on NBC.com and Peacock, but the original version is available on both Peacock and Netflix.

2025-05-20 07:01