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

"Suits," the beloved legal drama, has captivated audiences since its debut on USA in 2011, maintaining its popularity through nearly 15 years. Its recent availability on Netflix spurred a binge-watching revival, but unfortunately, the same magic couldn't be recaptured with the new spin-off, "Suits LA." Despite high hopes, "Suits LA" was canceled after just one season, as announced with the release of NBC's fall schedule. Jeff Bader, NBC's president of program planning strategy, shed light on the decision.

"It's incredibly challenging to decide which shows to renew, and 'Suits LA' had a brief run but simply didn't connect with audiences as we anticipated," Bader shared with Variety. "There are countless reasons speculated for its lack of resonance, but it ultimately didn't show the potential for future growth."

Bader elaborated on the criteria used for such decisions, emphasizing the importance of evaluating performance across both linear and digital platforms. "We had to assess the stability and growth potential of each show. Unfortunately, 'Suits LA' didn't meet our expectations in these areas, leading to some tough choices."

He also mentioned that NBCUniversal considers moving canceled shows to Peacock, but "Suits LA" was not deemed suitable for this transition.

In contrast, Bader explained what makes a show worthy of retention, especially with the need to accommodate more sports programming, such as the NBA on Tuesday nights. "We analyze week-to-week and episode-to-episode performance on both linear and digital platforms to identify the shows with the strongest ratings trajectory. On the creative front, our teams evaluate which shows have the best potential to attract new viewers. These factors led us to retain the top-performing shows."

"Suits" originally ran for nine seasons from 2011 to 2019. The revival series, "Suits LA," premiered in February with stars like Stephen Amell, Lex Scott Davis, Josh McDermitt, and Bryan Greenberg. Notable original cast members, including Rick Hoffman, David Costabile, and Gabriel Macht, made guest appearances. Aaron Korsh, the creator of "Suits," also served as the creator and executive producer of "Suits LA," which concluded its run with the final episode airing on May 11, 2025.