"Suits" has been a beloved series among fans, captivating audiences since its debut on USA in 2011. The show experienced a significant revival in recent years, largely thanks to its availability on Netflix, which spurred countless binge-watching sessions. However, the momentum wasn't enough to carry the new spin-off, "Suits LA," which was canceled after just one season following the release of NBC's fall schedule. Jeff Bader, the brand's president of program planning strategy, shed light on the decision to cancel the series.
"It's so challenging to decide which shows to renew, and 'Suits LA' had a brief run, but it simply didn't resonate with audiences as we had hoped," Bader explained to Variety after the fall schedule was publicized. "There are numerous factors at play, and while people speculate on why it didn't connect, the show just didn't demonstrate the potential for future growth."
Bader elaborated on the tough choices the network faced: "We had to evaluate the performance of our shows, both on traditional TV and digital platforms. We needed to identify which ones showed promise for future growth. We looked at their stability on linear broadcasts and digital, which shows were growing, and which were declining. Ultimately, we had to make some difficult decisions."
He also noted that NBCUniversal considers the possibility of moving canceled shows to Peacock, but "Suits LA" did not receive the go-ahead for such a transition.
Regarding the shows that survived the cuts, Bader outlined the criteria that made them attractive to the network, especially with the need to accommodate more sports programming due to the NBA taking over Tuesday nights. "We analyzed their weekly and episodic performance across both linear and digital platforms to determine which shows had the strongest ratings," he shared. "On the creative side, our teams assessed which shows had the greatest potential to attract new viewers. These were the two shows that rose to the top."
"Suits" originally aired for nine seasons from 2011 to 2019. The revival series, "Suits LA," premiered in February and featured stars like Stephen Amell, Lex Scott Davis, Josh McDermitt, and Bryan Greenberg. Notably, original "Suits" cast members such as Rick Hoffman, David Costabile, and leading man Gabriel Macht made guest appearances. Aaron Korsh, the creator of "Suits," also served as the creator and executive producer for the spin-off, which aired its final episode on May 11, 2025.
