NBC Exec Explains Suits LA Cancellation: Tough Choices Made

*Suits* has been a beloved show for nearly 15 years, captivating fans since its debut on USA in 2011. The series experienced a significant revival in recent years, thanks to its full availability on Netflix, sparking countless binge-watching sessions. However, this renewed interest wasn't enough to secure the fate of the new spin-off, *Suits LA*, which NBC has recently canceled after its inclusion in the fall schedule. Jeff Bader, the president of program planning strategy at NBC, shed light on the decision to pull the plug.

"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 stated to Variety following the public release of the fall schedule. "There are numerous potential reasons why it didn't connect, but unfortunately, it's not showing the potential for future growth."

Bader elaborated on the decision-making process: "We had to evaluate the performance of our shows across both traditional and digital platforms. We needed to identify which ones showed promise for future growth. This involved analyzing stability in linear viewership, digital performance, and whether shows were on an upward or downward trajectory. These evaluations led us to make some tough calls."

Bader also noted that NBCUniversal considers the possibility of transferring canceled shows to Peacock, but *Suits LA* did not receive approval for such a move. Regarding the shows that survived the cuts, Bader explained the criteria for retention, especially with the need to accommodate more sports programming, including NBA games on Tuesday nights.

"We analyzed the weekly and episode-by-episode performance on both linear and digital platforms to determine which shows had the strongest ratings story," Bader said. "On the creative side, our teams assessed which shows had the greatest potential to attract new audiences. The two shows that rose to the top met these criteria."

*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. The spin-off also saw appearances from original *Suits* cast members such as Rick Hoffman, David Costabile, and leading man Gabriel Macht. Aaron Korsh, the creator of *Suits*, also served as the creator and executive producer of *Suits LA*, which concluded its run with its final episode on May 11, 2025.