NBC has officially cancelled Suits: LA, the spinoff of the hit legal drama Suits, after just one season. Despite high hopes and the return of some fan-favorite characters, the show failed to meet expectations. Here’s what went wrong.
A Spinoff With Big Shoes to Fill
Suits first aired in 2011 and quickly became a fan favorite, especially after Meghan Markle’s role gained global attention. In 2023, the original show had a major comeback on Netflix, becoming one of the most streamed series of the year. With that kind of success, NBC hoped lightning would strike twice by launching Suits: LA.
The new show followed Ted Black, a former federal prosecutor from New York, who tried to build a struggling law firm in Los Angeles. Original cast members like Gabriel Macht (Harvey Specter), Rick Hoffman (Louis Litt), and David Costabile (Daniel Hardman) made guest appearances. New actors, including Stephen Amell, Lex Scott Davis, and Josh McDermitt, joined the cast to carry the story forward.
Why the Show Didn’t Work
From the very beginning, Suits: LA struggled with low ratings. Even special marathon events couldn’t boost viewership. According to reports, the show barely reached over one million viewers on live TV, and its performance on streaming platforms wasn’t strong either. Unlike the original Suits, which found massive success on Netflix, Suits: LA was only available on Peacock, NBC’s own streaming service.
Critics were also not kind. One review called it “tonally confused,” and another said it felt like a failed attempt to make money off a good idea. Many fans felt the spinoff lacked the charm and chemistry that made the original series so beloved.
Streaming Strategy May Have Backfired
Some experts believe the show’s downfall was partly due to its streaming strategy. Instead of making it available on Netflix like the original, NBC kept it exclusive to Peacock. The hope was to make it a must-watch show that would attract more subscribers to the platform. Unfortunately, that move may have limited its audience and hurt its chances of success.
There are now rumors that NBC might eventually release Suits: LA on Netflix to try and salvage some viewership, but nothing has been confirmed.
NBC Clears the Deck for NBA Coverage
The cancellation also comes as NBC makes room in its schedule for major sports coverage. The network recently signed a $2.5 billion per year deal with the NBA, which will take up a lot of airtime. To make space, NBC has cancelled several shows, including Suits: LA, The Irrational, Found, Night Court, and Lopez vs Lopez.
