Y&R Alum Shemar Moore On S.W.A.T. Cancellation: ‘It Sucks’
Three strikes and they’re out or is it third time’s the charm? S.W.A.T. star Shemar Moore had a lot to say about his prime-time show’s future.
After eight seasons, CBS has cancelled the prime-time action drama S.W.A.T. for the third time (the last two times, it got a reprieve), with its series finale slated for May. Now, its leading man, Daytime Emmy-winning former Young and Restless star Shemar Moore (ex-Malcolm Winters) is speaking out about the show’s possible end, his plea for a new network or streaming service to pick it up and his immense gratitude for all the CBS network has meant to him over the course of his career.
Looking Back
The actor took to his Instagram account to voice his feelings about this latest move by the eye network. He began his nearly six-minute video by saying, “S.W.A.T., here we are, Season 8, three weeks away from the finale, we are canceled again. It sucks. It’s sad — had to give a speech today on set to the crew.”
As longtime fans know, viewer outcry has saved S.W.A.T. in the past — and it’s fair to say the star would love to see lightning strike a third time. Even if it doesn’t, he is grateful.
“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 choice, I’ll say that,” he acknowledged. “But if you are done, I say thank you, genuinely, honestly, from my heart, because [it’s] my 31st anniversary of being in this game [and my success is] 90% because of you, CBS. Young and the Restless, Criminal Minds [the police crime drama on which Moore starred from 2005-16], and now S.W.A.T. is all CBS. I did a little of this, a little of that, over here and over there. But if this is the end, I say thank you… Thank you for the honor, thank you for the opportunity, thank you for the ride. If you change your mind, I promise you, you’ll make a lot of people smile.”
Even if CBS doesn’t reverse its decision for a third time, the actor expressed that he was certainly open to a change of address for the show, which premiered in 2017. “Netflix, if you’re interested in a show that is on autopilot that the world is watching… we’d love to come play,” he smiled. “NBC, Fox, ABC — hey, you wanna come flirt with me? You’re invited to the barbecue. Pick your favorite restaurant, I will pay the bill.”
Will anyone take him up on his invitation? Stay tuned.
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