Shocking twists aren’t limited to daytime dramas! Shemar Moore, who recently reprised his role as Malcolm on The Young and the Restless, didn’t lament the axing of his primetime series S.W.A.T. for very long. In a surprise (but not unprecedented move), CBS has reversed its decision to cancel the show, and it will return for a 7th and final season! Bonus: Moore will be taking on an exciting new role in addition to playing Sgt. Dan “Hondo” Harrelson on the show.
Shemar Moore Celebrates S.W.A.T. Renewal
Deadline broke the story that after CBS initially canceled S.W.A.T. after six seasons, it had reversed the move. CBS has officially renewed the police procedural drama that is set in Los Angeles for a seventh and final season. Moore, understandably, was over the moon about the news. “Ayyeee!!!!! We did it #SWATFAM!!! @swatcbs is coming back for a 7th and Final season with 13 Episodes!!!” the actor shared on Instagram. “Thank you to all of you for the continued and amazing support!! Let’s go 👊🏽💯🔥💪🏽.” Moore has more to celebrate than S.W.A.T.’s renewal — he’s going to be one of the show’s executive producers in this final year.
S.W.A.T. Fans Voice Their Passion
“We have listened to our viewers and their outpouring of passion for S.W.A.T. and we have reached an agreement to renew it for a final season of 13 episodes to air during the 2023-2024 broadcast year,” said Amy Reisenbach, President, CBS Entertainment, and Katherine Pope, President, Sony Pictures Television Studios, in a joint statement.
“S.W.A.T. has aired for six seasons on CBS and garnered a devoted following. We are pleased that we found a way to bring it back and give closure to the show’s storylines and characters, which audiences deserve. Once again, we appreciate the talents and efforts of the cast, writers, producers and crew and everyone who has contributed to the success of S.W.A.T. We look forward to its return next season.”
Networks reversing their decisions about shows being canceled isn’t common, but it’s not unheard of either. In the 1980s, CBS axed police drama Cagney & Lacey, which starred Emmy-winners Tyne Daly as Mary Beth Lacey and Sharon Gless as Christine Cagney. The show was canceled after an initial six-episode run, which began in 1982. Originally, Loretta Swit (M*A*S*H) played Cagney in a TV movie; then, Meg Foster (The Scarlet Letter) took over the role. CBS decided to relaunch Cagney & Lacey in the fall of 1983 with Gless in the role of Cagney.
The show was canceled again the following May. However, a heavy letter-writing campaign helped convince CBS to revive the series a second time. Cagney & Lacey went on to become a ratings success (ranking No. 10 in programs in the 1983-84 season) and a creative hit for CBS. In addition, multiple Emmy wins each for Daly (4) and Gless (2) as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, Cagney & Lacey won the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series in 1985 and 1986. The cast of Cagney & Lacey reunited for four reunion TV movies starting in 1994.
Shemar Moore: Restless Style
Ironically, the news of S.W.A.T. being renewed broke on the same day that Moore reprised his role as Y&R’s Malcolm. Had the police drama stayed canceled, Moore would have been more available for guest spots in Genoa City. However, he remains within the CBS family, and Moore has reprised Malcolm despite having a busy schedule in primetime. So, there’s no reason not to think that S.W.A.T. being renewed doesn’t mean we won’t be seeing Malcolm in the future. While S.W.A.T. is coming back for more, CBS has announced the cancellation of two other series — True Lies and East New York.
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