NBC Exec on Suits LA Cancellation: 'Tough Choices Were Necessary'

*Suits* remains a beloved series that captivated audiences since its debut on USA Network back in 2011. The show enjoyed a significant revival in recent years, thanks to its availability on Netflix, fueling countless binge-watching marathons. However, despite this resurgence, the new spin-off series, *Suits: LA*, couldn't maintain the same momentum and was recently canceled by NBC as part of their fall schedule announcement. Jeff Bader, the president of program planning strategy at NBC, shed light on the decision to pull the plug on the show.

“It’s incredibly challenging to decide which shows to renew, and *Suits: LA* had a very brief run, but unfortunately, it didn't connect with audiences the way we anticipated,” Bader stated in an interview with Variety after the fall schedule was released. “There could be numerous reasons speculated for its lack of resonance, but ultimately, it's not demonstrating the potential for future growth that we need to see.”

The executive further elaborated on the decision-making process, saying, “We had to evaluate the performance of all our shows across both traditional and digital platforms. We needed to identify which ones showed promise for future growth. We considered their stability in terms of linear viewership and digital engagement, as well as whether they were on an upward or downward trajectory. These tough choices were necessary.”

Bader also mentioned that NBCUniversal routinely explores the possibility of transferring shows to Peacock if they are canceled from the network lineup. However, *Suits: LA* did not receive the go-ahead for such a move.

When it comes to the shows that were spared from cancellation, Bader outlined the criteria that made them stand out to the network, especially amidst the need to accommodate more sports programming, including NBA games on Tuesday nights. “We assessed their performance week by week and episode by episode, both on linear TV and digital platforms, to determine which ones had the strongest ratings narrative,” he explained. “On the creative front, our teams also evaluated which shows had the highest potential to attract new viewers. These factors led us to prioritize the shows that ultimately stayed on our schedule.”

*Suits* originally ran for nine seasons from 2011 to 2019. The revival series, *Suits: LA*, premiered in February, starring Stephen Amell, Lex Scott Davis, Josh McDermitt, and Bryan Greenberg. The spin-off also featured appearances by original *Suits* cast members like Rick Hoffman, David Costabile, and Gabriel Macht. Aaron Korsh, the creator of the original series, served as both creator and executive producer for *Suits: LA*, which aired its final episode on May 11, 2025.