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CBS has officially canceled S.W.A.T. for the third time, marking the end of the action drama after eight seasons and 163 episodes. The show, starring Shemar Moore as Sergeant Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson, premiered in 2017 and became a fan favorite. However, despite previous reversals of cancellation decisions, this time, the end appears final.
Showrunner and executive producer Andrew Dettmann expressed his disappointment, stating, "It's heartbreaking news, primarily because it's been such an immense pleasure working with this cast and crew to put out a show that we've always been proud of. They are truly an extraordinary group of people who have all worked so hard and have been so dedicated for all these eight seasons, overcoming countless challenges. I can't give them enough credit."
Executive producer Shawn Ryan also shared his gratitude, saying, "It's been an extraordinary privilege to work on S.W.A.T. for eight seasons and tell the stories of Hondo and 20-Squad. I thank our fans, Shemar Moore, the rest of our cast, our producers, Sony Pictures Television, CBS Studios, and CBS for the opportunity. Most of all, I want to thank our tireless, dedicated crew who made our writers, directors, and cast always look good. My greatest concern right now is for them."
Moore, a longtime CBS star, reacted to the news on Instagram, calling the decision "sad" and "heartbreaking." He addressed the crew directly, saying, "I had to give a speech today to my crew and say, 'Hey, we're done.' There's nothing I can say to make this sound nice, good, optimistic—nothing. But I said, 'Be proud. Be proud because we defied the odds, and we made a hit television show that the world loved to watch.'"
He also sent a message to CBS, acknowledging their support while hinting at possible future opportunities with other networks: "I say to CBS, if you're done—I know it's about money, optics, politics—I don't think you're making the right decision. But if you are done, I say thank you, genuinely, honestly." He then added, "Hey Netflix, how you doing?"
Fans took to social media to express their frustration and disappointment. One fan wrote, "Noooo!!!! I don't know why they keep trying to cancel. It's such a great show and very popular!" Another added, "CBS is making a big mistake."
