Aired: 2015-16 (1 Season Totaling 22 Episodes)
Network: CBS
Starring: Jake McDorman, Jennifer Carpenter, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Hill Harper
Series Website: www.cbs.com/shows/limitless/
Description: Limitless, based on the feature film, is a fast-paced drama about Brian Finch, who discovers the brain-boosting power of the mysterious drug NZT and is coerced by the FBI into using his extraordinary cognitive abilities to solve complex cases for them. Working closely with Brian in the major case squad in New York City is Special Agent Rebecca Harris, a formidable investigator with a dark past, and Special Agent Boyle, a former military officer and Rebecca’s confidante. They report to Special Agent in Charge Nasreen “Naz” Pouran, a canny manipulator of the reins of power. Unbeknownst to the FBI, Brian also has a clandestine relationship with Senator Edward Mora (Academy Award nominee Bradley Cooper, recurring), a presidential hopeful and regular user of NZT who has plans of his own for his new protégé. Fueled now with a steady supply of NZT that enables him to use 100% of his brain capacity, Brian is more effective than all of the FBI agents combined, making him a criminal’s worst nightmare and the greatest asset the Bureau has ever possessed. CBS.com
Why Was It Cancelled? CBS, know for a good reason as the sci fi-averse network, basically worked against this show. While the series pulled only moderate ratings in the Tuesday 10 PM EST timeslot, the ratings slide really began when CBS started preempted it and running repeats on a regular basis beginning in December. Despite that, it still had good delayed viewing numbers and was one of the few broadcast network shows that saw a significant boost in its standings based on DVR gains. Limitless was actually the eighth ranked scripted show on its network when you factor in those stats, moving up from the twelfth ranked based on the Overnights. CBS boss Les Moonves has said multiple times that the overnight ratings are “meaningless”, but if that is true, why was Limitless cancelled? He also previously stated that all five of the network’s freshman shows would be renewed, but in fact three of the seven(math skills are apparently not required to be a network boss) were cancelled and one (Supergirl) was shipped off to The CW. CBS apparently made a halfhearted attempt to shop the series around, but found no takers (likely because the price tag was too high). Limitless followed a very similar path to ABC’s Forever last year and represents yet another promising show cut down by poor network decision-making.
Season to Date (StD) Ratings Results:
| Air Date | Airings | Live+SD Rtg | StD Avg | Tot Vwrs (M) | Live+7 Rtg | Cancel Alert |
| 9/22/15 | 1 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 9.9 | 3.2 | Low |
| 9/29/15 | 2 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 9.7 | 3.1 | Low |
| 10/6/15 | 3 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 9.6 | 2.8 | Low |
| 10/13/15 | 4 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 8.0 | 2.6 | Low |
| 10/20/15 | 5 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 7.9 | 2.6 | Low |
| 10/27/15 | 6 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 7.5 | 2.5 | Low |
| 11/3/15 | 7 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 7.9 | 2.6 | Low |
| 11/10/15 | 8 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 7.1 | 2.5 | Low |
| 11/17/15 | 9 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 7.5 | 2.5 | Low |
| 11/24/15 | 10 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 6.5 | 2.2 | Low |
| 12/1/15 | Repeat | 1.1 | 1.5 | 4.9 | n/a | Low |
| 12/8/15 | n/a | Preempted | 1.5 | 4.9 | n/a | Low |
| 12/15/15 | 11 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 6.6 | 2.3 | Low |
| 12/22/15 | n/a | On Hiatus | 1.5 | 6.6 | n/a | Low |
| 1/5/16 | 12 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 7.3 | 2.3 | Low |
| 1/12/16 | n/a | Preempted | 1.5 | n/a | n/a | Low |
| 1/19/16 | 13 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 6.3 | 2.4 | Low |
| 1/26/16 | Repeat | 0.8 | 1.5 | 4.6 | n/a | Low |
| 2/2/16 | n/a | Preempted | 1.5 | 4.6 | n/a | Low |
| 2/9/16 | 14 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 6.4 | 2.3 | Moderate |
| 2/16/16 | 15 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 6.0 | 2.2 | Moderate |
| 2/23/16 | 16 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 5.9 | 2.1 | Moderate |
| 3/1/16 | n/a | Preempted | 1.4 | n/a | n/a | Moderate |
| 3/8/16 | 17 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 5.4 | 2.1 | Moderate |
| 3/15/16 | 18 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 5.6 | 1.9 | Moderate |
| 3/22/16 | 19 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 6.6 | 2.2 | Moderate |
| 3/29/16 | n/a | Preempted | 1.4 | n/a | n/a | Moderate |
| 4/5/16 | 20 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 6.1 | 2.0 | Moderate |
| 4/12/16 | n/a | Preempted | 1.4 | n/a | n/a | Moderate |
| 4/19/16 | 21 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 5.6 | 1.9 | Moderate |
| 4/26/16 | 22 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 5.6 | 1.9 | Moderate |
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Buy the first season of Limitless from Amazon Instant Video:
